The Rise of the Dragon: An Altered History of the World Wrestling Federation

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Match of the Year: Antonio Inoki vs. Masa Saito – NJPW, 4/27 (199) 955

There was no clear winner in this category this year, but when all the votes were tallied, Inoki & Saito’s battle in April came out on top. [9]

Pwi-online.com’s Top 25 matches of 1987 (winners in bold)

1. Antonio Inoki vs. Masa Saito (NJPW, Blazing Cherry Blossoms, 4/27)

So because of this thread and the fact that it's on NJPW World, I just watched this match.

Uh.

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. I've never seen a wrestling match where the ref just takes off the ropes and they just brawl for ages. Also, I have no idea how common juicing was in 1987, but it was awfy weird to see Saito juicing then bashing Inoki across the head with a pair of handcuffs before placing them on their wrists. Inoki just fights back by pummeling Saito in the head like he's Brock Lesnar giving Randy Orton a concussion, and he gets a TKO win. It's an incredibly brutal match for the time, and I get how it could've been so radical back then IOTL and ITTL.

Anyway, great update! Really excited to see the build to Wrestlemania here.
 
February 1988: Friday Night's Main Event
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February 2, 1988

OPENING FOR FRIDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT (EPISODE #1)

(as the show comes on the air, we see Randy Savage, wearing the Intercontinental Title belt around his waist, and Miss Elizabeth, both standing in front of a Macho Man graphic)

RANDY SAVAGE: OOOOOOHHH YEAH! I am the “Macho Man”, Randy Savage, and this is my manager, the lovely Elizabeth, YEAH! And “the Snake” Jake Roberts is at it again! He’s even brought his lady snake to deal with my lady, Elizabeth, YEAH! Well tonight, it’s not gonna make any difference, no. The Macho Man is gonna put that nasty snake away with a 1-2-3 count, and end this thing for good. And Elizabeth—I know if that lady snake tries to get involved, you’ve got the Macho Man’s back, YEAH!

MISS ELIZABETH: Randy, I can take care of myself. You have nothing to worry about.

SAVAGE: OOOOOOHH YEAH, DIG IT!

(camera cuts to Jake Roberts, standing with his wife Cheryl in front of a Jake the Snake graphic)

JAKE ROBERTS: Macho Man, you must be crazy to think I’d come to this fight alone. One of my phrases I live by is “always be prepared”. And tonight, I’ve done just that—I’ve got my old lady out here to make sure that untrustworthy manager of yours keeps her nose where it belongs. [1]

CHERYL ROBERTS: Tonight, the Macho Man gets a taste of what my man can do…

(camera cuts to Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart, standing in front of a Hart Foundation graphic)

JIM NEIDHART: We are the Hart Foundation. And Hitman, we sure are in a pickle tonight against the Rougeaus! If we win our match, we become the new champions, but if we lose…if we lose…we can’t be a team anymore! [2]

BRET HART: Don’t think about that, Anvil! We’re the best tag team in this business today, and there’s no way the Rougeaus are gonna beat us with something like that at stake! Tonight, we will take back what’s rightfully ours!

(camera cuts to Hulk Hogan, wearing the WWF Title belt, and Bobby “the Brain” Heenan, both standing in front of a Hulk Hogan graphic)

BOBBY HEENAN: Andre the Giant had to stick his big, fat nose where it didn’t belong! Now, this man is primed and ready to teach that filthy Giant a lesson!

HULK HOGAN: Andre, you may be big, you may be undefeated, but tonight, the Hulk is gonna show you exactly what he’s made of, and tonight, brother, the pythons are PUMPED to TAKE! YOU! DOWN!

(camera cuts to Andre the Giant standing in front of an Andre the Giant “handprint” graphic)

ANDRE THE GIANT: Hogan, you may be the World Champion now. But no more…tonight, I will take the belt! I WILL!

(camera cuts to Ricky Steamboat, standing in front of a Dragon graphic)

RICKY STEAMBOAT: Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat here, and first off, I wanna say good luck to my friend Andre the Giant in his match tonight! And, oh yes, I realize that if the Giant wins tonight, he’ll become the WWF Champion! But I can say this: no matter who goes into Wrestlemania as champion, I will be right there to challenge them! Tonight, Hercules Hernandez, you are the first step on the Dragon’s flight back to the top of the World Wrestling Federation!

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February 5, 1988

The first episode of Friday Night’s Main Event airs on NBC. Taped three days prior at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana, the program becomes the most-watched wrestling show on network television, garnering a 15.0 rating. [3] Four heavily-hyped matches are featured on the card, each one carrying their own heavy stakes. [4]

In the first match of the night, Randy Savage defends his Intercontinental Championship against Jake “the Snake” Roberts, in a rematch from Wrestlemania 3. To even up the odds, Roberts brings his real-life wife Cheryl to be at ringside. Savage and Roberts don’t wrestle for very long, when “Ravishing” Rick Rude appears from the back, holding a microphone. Rude cuts a promo on how he feels sorry for Elizabeth for supporting a weak champion like Savage, but he feels even sorrier for Cheryl for being married to a man like Roberts. Both Savage and Roberts leave the ring to attack Rude, but Rude is ready for them both—one punch from Rude knocks out both Savage and Roberts, confusing both the announce team and the audience. A close-up of Rude’s hands reveals he is holding a set of handcuffs, having used them like brass knuckles to KO both men. The bell rings as the referee rules the match a no contest; however, Rude isn’t finished yet. Still wielding the handcuffs, Rude half-drags, half-carries a semi-conscious Roberts to the ring, and handcuffs him to the ring ropes. Cheryl Roberts attempts to get Rude off her husband, but Rude grabs Cheryl, takes her into the ring, and forcibly kisses her. Roberts has regained consciousness by this time, and frantically tries to undo the handcuffs to no avail, and as Cheryl quickly exits the ring in disgust to aid her husband, Rude points at Roberts, gyrating his hips as he taunts the man. Meanwhile, the match’s ending meant Randy Savage’s 600-plus-day long reign with the Intercontinental Title continued, and the question remained: who would be Savage’s next challenger?

Ricky Steamboat faces off against Hercules Hernandez in the second match of the night. As per a previously announced stipulation, a loss for Steamboat here means that he cannot challenge for the WWF Championship at Wrestlemania. In a pre-match backstage interview with Gene Okerlund, Hercules’ manager Bobby Heenan, who also manages Rick Rude, refuses to comment on Rude’s actions minutes prior, saying Rude “has his own business with Jake Roberts”. Heenan also announces he will not be at ringside with Hercules, as the Brain needs to help Hulk Hogan prepare for his match later, which Hercules seems to take in stride. The following match is a back-and-forth contest, with Steamboat using his normal aerial and mat-based techniques and Hernandez providing many power moves. Despite fighting from underneath for the last half of the match, Steamboat eventually manages to stagger Hercules with a thrust kick, knocking the big man off his feet. Steamboat then hits a Dragon Dive, and pins Hernandez to win the match and secure his position in the main event of Wrestlemania 4, much to the delight of the crowd.

The third match of the night is the much-anticipated match between WWF Champion Hulk Hogan and challenger, the then-unpinned Andre the Giant. Having been advertised heavily in the weeks up to the broadcast, the match is far from a technical masterpiece, but is still captivating due to the storytelling behind it. Early in the match, Bobby Heenan attempts to distract the referee, but his actions get him ejected from ringside, prompting cheers from the audience. The match continues for about seven more minutes, and the finish comes when Hogan is pushed into referee Dave Hebner, knocking the ref out. Andre hits a front facelock suplex on Hogan and pins him, but the referee is nowhere to be seen. Taking advantage, Bobby Heenan runs down and tries to interfere in the match, but Andre grabs Heenan on the apron and attempts to choke him for trying to interfere. Hogan, who has grabbed the WWF Championship Belt from ringside, clobbers Andre in the back of the head to save his manager. It seems to have little effect on Andre, who turns around and glares at Hogan. Heenan grabs Andre from behind, letting Hogan hit Andre with an Axe Bomber into the turnbuckle. Andre tumbles to the mat, and Hogan quickly hits a legdrop and pins Andre. Heenan throws Hebner back into the ring, and he begins to count. Andre kicks out a millisecond after the referee’s hand hits for the 3-count, and after getting up, tries to argue, but Hebner, much to the shock and ire of the crowd, awards the match to Hogan. After the match, Andre beats up Hogan and Heenan to give the fans what they want to see. The way the match ends remains polarizing even to the present day, with some fans marking it as the moment Hogan became the most hated man in the WWF, and others saying it was pointless to give Hogan a pinfall victory over Andre, a man who up until that point had been unpinned in the WWF, [5] and that Hogan was already established as a fairly dominant heel champion.

After the match, Gene Okerlund interviews Ricky Steamboat, who expresses disgust and shock at the way Hogan “stole” a victory from the dominant Andre. However, Steamboat vows that he will make Hogan pay at Wrestlemania. When Mean Gene asks about Bobby Heenan, Steamboat promises him and the viewers that the Dragon will find a way to “soar back to the top of the World Wrestling Federation”.

The final match of the night pits current WWF Tag Team Champions the Fabulous Rougeaus against challengers the Hart Foundation. Per a predetermined stipulation, the winning team would get the Tag Team Titles, but the losing team would be forced to break up. The match is arguably the best of the night, featuring a back-and-forth contest with the heel Rougeaus isolating Jim Neidhart and the Anvil mounting power comebacks against both Rougeau brothers, but just barely missing the tag to his partner Bret Hart. After hitting a powerslam to Jacques late in the match, the Anvil finally makes the hot tag to the Hitman, and Hart comes in to unload on both the Rougeaus. It seems like the Harts have the match in the bag, but after a Hart Attack on Jacques, Raymond breaks up the pinfall. Neidhart tries to get involved, but Jimmy Hart grabs the Anvil’s leg from ringside, delaying his help for Bret. Bret fights off both Rougeaus for a few more seconds, but a savate kick from Jacques staggers Bret. Raymond grabs Hart in a bear hug, and Raymond hits Hart with a Rougeau Bomb, and to the shock of the crowd, pins Bret Hart. Both Rougeaus roll from the ring, grab their title belts, and celebrate at ringside with Jimmy Hart, while Bret sits in the middle of the ring with a look of shock on his face. Jim Neidhart climbs into the ring and looks down at Bret, and neither man says a word for a few moments. Bret finally shakes his head, mouths “I’m sorry” to Neidhart, and the Anvil extends his hand to Bret to help him up. Neidhart teases a heel turn when he pulls Hart close to him and stares at him intensely, but eventually smiles and holds up his partner’s hand. As the camera shows many shots of people in the audience applauding, cheering, and a few crying, the Hart Foundation stand in the ring for the last time as a tag team, soaking up the roar of the audience. “These two men will surely go down in history as the greatest tag team specialists in WWF history,” commentator Vince McMahon muses, and his partner, the normally heel-favoring Jesse Ventura, agrees, saying “Sadly, we’re witnessing the final chapter for the Hart Foundation, McMahon!” as the show goes off the air.

Friday Night’s Main Event #1 Results
WWF Intercontinental Championship: Randy “Macho Man” Savage (w/ Miss Elizabeth) (c) fought Jake “the Snake” Roberts (w/ Cheryl Roberts) to a No Contest (4:14)
Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat def. Hercules Hernandez (4:28)
WWF Championship: Hulk Hogan (c) def. Andre the Giant (13:42)
WWF Tag Team Championships – Losing Team Disbands Match: The Fabulous Rougeaus (Jacques & Raymond) (w/ Jimmy Hart) def. The Hart Foundation (Bret “Hitman” Hart & Jim “the Anvil” Neidhart) (12:55)

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[1] Despite the cheers he will get from the fans, Jake Roberts is still essentially a tweener at this point (a la Steve Austin circa 1997), and still exhibits heelish mannerisms like calling his wife his “old lady”. He will truly turn full babyface on this show.

[2] I intentionally kept this secret until this very update. The stipulation is announced on an episode of Superstars of Wrestling leading up to the show ITTL, and it’s covered in the Newsletters published until the event airs. I think you can all see the writing on the wall at this point…

[3] As OTL, except the rating was a slightly higher 15.2. The show still faces the same competition (Full House on ABC, Beauty and the Beast on CBS), but due to butterflies, slightly fewer people are watching tonight.

[4] IOTL, The Main Event was only a two-match show, featuring Hogan vs. Andre for the World Title and Randy Savage vs. Honky Tonk Man for the Intercontinental Title. A tag team match between Strike Force and the Hart Foundation for the Tag Team Titles was scheduled to happen, but due to time constraints, it was cut from the broadcast at the last minute (the match was still going on when the show went off the air).

[5] As OTL, up to this point, Andre had never been pinned in the WWF; however, he had suffered several pinfall losses in other territories at this point—notably, he was pinned by Karl Gotch in Japan in 1971, Killer Kowalski in 1972, Ron Garvin in 1982 in Mid-South, and El Canek in Mexico in 1984.

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After an eternity, I have returned triumphantly! :cool:

I apologize for this update taking so long, but real-life circumstances unfortunately prevented me from finishing it all that quickly. Still, I hope you all enjoyed it, and please try not to flood everything with your tears after seeing the Hart Foundation's break-up...

Up next: we begin the ride to Wrestlemania 4, and learn some of the big angles and feuds for the show.
 
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May 25, 1986: Hands Across America

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Hands Across America
From *Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hands Across America was a benefit event and publicity campaign staged on Sunday, May 25, 1986 in which approximately 7.5 million people held hands in a human chain for fifteen consecutive minutes along a (mostly) continuous path across the continental United States. [1] Many participants donated ten dollars to reserve their place in line; the proceeds were donated to local charities to fight hunger and homelessness and help those in poverty. The chain began at New York City’s Battery Park and extended 4,522 miles (7,278 km) to the RMS Queen Mary pier in Long Beach, California. [2]

In order to allow the maximum number of people to participate, the path linked major cities and meandered back and forth within the cities. There were several breaks in the chain, but enough people participated to form an unbroken chain across the 48 contiguous states if the participants had been spread evenly along the route standing about four feet (1.2 m) apart.
Hands Across America raised $43 million.

Cities
Cities along the route included the following: [3]
New York City, New York: with Brooke Shields, Liza Minelli, John Cardinal O’Connor, Susan Anton, and Gregory Hines. Edward James Olmos, Yoko Ono, Harry Belafonte, and numerous wrestlers from the WWF (including Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat, Hulk Hogan, and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper) anchored the George Washington Bridge. [4]
Trenton, New Jersey: with Dionne Warwick and Tony Danza.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: with Jerry Lewis and Scott Baio.
Baltimore, Maryland: with R2-D2 and Emmanuel Lewis. The first break in the chain west of New York was reported to be in Maryland.
Washington, D.C.: with President Ronald Reagan at the White House and Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill at the United States Capitol Building.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: with the Pittsburgh Pirates Parrot.
Youngstown, Ohio: with Michael Jackson.
Cleveland, Ohio: with David Copperfield.
Toledo, Ohio: with Jamie Farr.
Columbus, Ohio: with Michael J. Fox.
Cincinnati, Ohio: with Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca.
Indianapolis, Indiana: occurred in the rain. Was scheduled side-by-side with the Indy 500, which was rained-out that day. [citation needed]
Champaign, Illinois: with Walter Payton and William “Refrigerator” Perry of the Chicago Bears. The longest unbroken section of the chain was allegedly [by whom?] in Illinois.
Chebanse, Illinois: A cornfield in central Illinois served as the “center-point” of the nation, with 16,000 people in attendance along with the Silver Nickel Band and DJ Gerald Welch.
Springfield, Illinois: with 50 Abraham Lincoln impersonators.
St. Louis, Missouri: with Kathleen Turner under the St. Louis Arch.
Memphis, Tennessee: with 50 Elvis Presley impersonators.
Clarksdale, Mississippi: with B.B. King at “The Crossroads.”
Jackson, Mississippi: with Senator Thad Cochran.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana: with Jimmy Buffett. [5]
Amarillo, Texas: with Kenny Rogers, Renegade, Lee Greenwood and Tony Dorsett at the TX-NM border.
Albuquerque, New Mexico: with Don Johnson.
Phoenix, Arizona: with Ed Begley, Jr. Desert areas in the Southwest were mostly empty, dotted with one-mile (1.6 km)-long chains of people. Truck drivers sounded their horns during the appointed time.
San Bernardino, California: with Bob Seger and Charlene Tilton.
Santa Monica, California: with Jack Youngblood, Dudley Moore, Richard Dreyfuss, and Donna Mills.
Long Beach, California: with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Pluto, Reverend Robert Schuller, Kenny Loggins, and John Stamos, backed by Papa Doo Run Run.

The event was conceived and organized by Ken Kragen, Lionel Richie’s then-manager. Event implementation was through USA for Africa under the direction of Marty Rogol, the founding executive director. A theme song, titled "Hands Across America," was played simultaneously on hundreds of radio stations around the country at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (noon Pacific Time). The song was written by Marc Blatte and John Carney (the Spanish version was written by the composer Marcia Bell), and featured lead vocals by session singers Joe Cerisano and Sandy Farina, and backed by the band Toto. The song peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986. [6]

Hands Across America was a project of USA for Africa. USA for Africa produced “We Are the World” and the combined revenues raised by both events raised almost $100 million to fight famine in Africa and hunger and homelessness in the United States.

The date and time chosen for the event inadvertently conflicted with another charity fundraiser, Sport Aid, which was organized by USA for Africa on the same day. Since Hands Across America was much better publicized in the United States, only about 4,000 runners participated in New York City for Sport Aid.

Although the chain across the U.S. was not completed, the event inspired other demonstrations in other countries, in which human chains hundreds of miles long were completed. [citation needed]

In 2011, on the event’s 25th anniversary, a group of people gathered in Long Beach, CA to hold a commemorative event on the RMS Queen Mary. About 5,000 people held hands in an unbroken chain on the ship at the exact minute the chain occurred 25 years prior. [7]

Protests
Sen. Ted Kennedy and Rep. Edward Markey led an official protest over every New England state being excluded from Hands Across America. Then-governor of Arkansas Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary weighed in against the fact that the route omitted the entire state of Arkansas [8], and numerous political leaders in the West additionally weighed in against the route that was chosen, including Colorado governor Dick Lamm. Various protests broke out in the Upper Midwest, notably Minneapolis and Milwaukee, as well as northwestern cities such as Portland and Seattle. In Hawaii, actor Tom Selleck and Senator Daniel Inouye led a counter ‘Hands Across Hawaii’ program that was held to remind mainlanders that “Hawaiians are Americans, Too!” Professional wrestler Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat was invited to participate in Hands Across Hawaii, but he instead opted to be part of the chain in New York City, along with numerous other WWF wrestlers. [9]

In Popular Culture
• A Sunday strip of the newspaper comic Doonesbury had some of its characters in a chain. Said characters are singing the song of the same name, with the exception of Zonker Harris who sings “Just a Gigolo.”

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[1] I know I promised a wrestling update, but I’ve had this one in the can for a while now, and since I’ve decided I’m going to branch out into other aspects of pop culture…well, there you go.

[2] IOTL, ‘Hands Across America’ extended for 4,152 miles (6,682 km). You’ll see why the chain is longer as you read on in the article.

[3] All the cities and participating celebrities on this list are as OTL, except where noted.

[4] I have no idea if the WWF was involved in ‘Hands Across America’ IOTL, but it just seems like the thing some of the higher-ups might be interested in. Besides, can’t you just see Vince McMahon holding hands with Jesse Ventura? “Your hands are clammy, Jesse!” “Shut up, McMahon! It’s bad enough having to hold your dirty hands anyway!” :p

[5] And here’s where the butterflies hit: IOTL, the chain extended from Memphis to Little Rock, Arkansas before heading on to Amarillo, Texas. Here, in an attempt by the event organizers to get some people from the south to join in the party, it extends into Mississippi and Louisiana instead, unfortunately leaving Arkansas high and dry. All the celebrities in MS and LA are purely speculative.

[6] IOTL, the song only reached #65 on the Billboard charts. Since it takes place in more areas in the U.S. and thus garners a bit more publicity, the song barely manages to crack the Top 40 ITTL. It’s still incredibly cheesy, of course.

[7] Of course this event is as OTL. How can you even ask?

[8] I feel that Bill and Hillary would be especially disappointed to be excluded here, since their state is so close to the main chain.

[9] Steamboat was actually born in New York, but due to his greater exposure ITTL and since he’s of Hawaiian heritage, he’s offered a spot in ‘Hands Across Hawaii’. However, he graciously opts to participate in the primary event in his home state.

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I'm back! Seems like it's been forever since I've posted anything here. I have been tweaking and fine-tuning this timeline for the past month or so, and some updates in the future will include numerous other aspects of '80s (and later, '90s) culture that are semi-related to wrestling (an update directly related to wrestling is coming next, I assure you). Still, I hope you enjoyed this little foray into some alt-popular culture.

Also, since I'm no good at making maps, if anyone would like to make a map of the route of this alt-'Hands Across America', feel free to do so. I'll be sure to give credit to you if you do.

Coming up, we take a look at the feud that carried the WWF through two Wrestlemania's...


Thanks for the memories! I was actually in Hands Across America in Whittier, CA. I had bought a "ticket" for a $10 donation and was assigned there. I was 14 years old at the time.
 
Late February 1988: Three Become One
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February 15, 1988


WWF/NWA War
It’s been a busy news week, but this writer feels the biggest story hasn’t gotten as much attention as it should have. WWF has announced plans for several pay-per-views for the next several months. We already knew about Wrestlemania 4 on 3/27, but Titan has also laid out plans for an unnamed PPV on 8/29, “Survivor Series 2” on 11/24, and “Royal Rumble 2” on 1/15/89. [1] On the surface, this seems harmless enough, but its impact on JCP is devastating. Crockett had originally planned to do the Crockett Cup on PPV in April, the Great American Bash in July, and Starrcade on 11/24—the exact same date McMahon and company have scheduled Survivor Series 2. With all this monopolizing, the WWF is effectively trying to prevent Crockett from breaking into the market … Whether or not JCP can recover from its recent troubles, or even pop big houses again, the gap between WWF and NWA is only going to grow bigger.

WWF
Wrestlemania 4 has already sold out the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City. 14,000 seats went on sale at prices ranging from $25 to $150, and about half were gone by the end of the first day. Because of the ticket prices, this show might actually pull a higher gate than Wrestlemania 3 … A concert from Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine is taking place adjacent to the convention center ballroom [2], and Vince and Trump are trying very hard to get them to work Wrestlemania as well. The past two Wrestlemanias have featured “mini-concerts” in an attempt to draw in viewers (as well as one AWA dud that shall remain nameless [3]).

Billy Jack Haynes, who has missed several bookings lately, is in poor health. His current feud with Davey Boy Smith is being wrapped up, and most think the man’s wrestling career is about to end.
[4]

Bamm Bamm Bigelow underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, and is scheduled to be back in time for Wrestlemania 4. Early reports say McMahon’s plans are for him to turn heel and feud with Andre the Giant.

The tapings for next week’s “Superstars of Wrestling” will feature a battle royal to determine the next challenger for the IC Title. The names being advertised for the match so far are Hart, Neidhart, DiBiase, Valentine, JYD, Orton and Muraco.

NWA
Figures are in for the Bunkhouse Stampede … the show drew a $75,000 gate, and 6,000 paid.

The Rock & Roll Express have been fired. They were asked to do a job in Cincinnati to the Powers of Pain in a 12-minute match, and were upset because they’d been a big attraction for years. As such, they no-showed the event, and the Powers of Pain were awarded the match via forfeit. Dusty wasn’t at the show, but he got word after the Rock & Rolls had flown to New York for the Bunkhouse Stampede, and he fired them then and there. They were also asked to do an angle with the Sheepherders recently where Ricky Morton would have his head shaved, and they refused.
[5] Where the tag team will end up next is unclear. I suppose Vince could always bring them in to sing on “Wrestling Album III” for “Boogie-Woogie Dance Hall” …

What’s one way to compete with Vince McMahon? Answer: bring in a man with an exponentially larger checkbook. Ted Turner is now trying to help the NWA with their PPV problems after the WWF blocked almost all their planned shows of the year from cable. As I’ve said before, the future of this business on a major-league level lies not in house shows, but in pay-per-view and outside merchandising, and with McMahon blocking Crockett from PPV, no matter what Crockett does, he can’t compete. Turner is reportedly wanting to help get the Great American Bash on PPV; plans for the Crockett Cup and Starrcade are unknown.



February 22, 1988

WWF
Paul Orndorff is scheduled to return to action soon. Orndorff, as readers may recall, suffered a minor arm injury following Survivor Series. Fortunately for him (but not us), it has been revealed that no major surgery will be needed [6].

At this week’s “Superstars” taping … Bret Hart won a 22-man battle royal for the right to face Randy Savage for the IC Title at Wrestlemania … George Steele eliminated Repo Joe, but Joe later returned with a little stuffed animal of some sort, and Steele exited the ring to chase him away. Where this will lead is anyone’s guess … Neidhart and Hart worked together to eliminate One Man Gang, but DiBiase snuck up behind and threw Neidhart out. It came down to Bret and Ted, and after a short exchange, Hart dumped DiBiase. Neidhart returned to the ring and held Hart’s arm up in celebration.

Bamm Bamm Bigelow has already returned to in-ring action, defeating Tiger Chung Lee at the “Superstars” taping.

NWA
Eddie Gilbert is still working here, but it appears they are trying to keep that a secret.

MEMPHIS
The rumor mill has been buzzing about the proposed merger between Memphis, Continental and World Class. As of printing, the merger is still going to happen, and talent from all three territories are being briefed in secret about it.

AWA
Adrian Adonis is scheduled to face Greg Gagne for the AWA World Title at an upcoming TV taping. Adonis made his debut on 2/10, winning a 20-man battle royal to challenge Greg for the title.

Both Kelly Kiniski and Nord the Barbarian have quit. Kiniski was unhappy with his pay and has gone back to Canada. Nord was pretty over in the AWA … but Verne never wanted to push him because he didn’t think his popularity would last.

MEXICO
A brief rundown of the scene in Mexico: There are literally dozens of promotions here, and wrestling draws huge crowds all over, although the gates aren’t very high by American standards due to the weak value of the peso. As such, there are very few American wrestlers working in Mexico, and I don’t believe any work here on a regular basis. Tickets range from $1 to $3 (American money), and the main eventers earn about $25-$30 on cards that draw several thousand fans. Top draws in Mexico include Perro Aguayo, Super Halcon, Super Muñeco, and of course, veterans like Mil Mascaras, Dos Caras, El Hijo Del Santo, and El Canek. [7]

OTHER
Roddy Piper is reportedly doing great in Hollywood. He shouldn’t have to wrestle again unless he wants to, and he’s in pretty high demand.

DAVE’S RANKINGS
[8]
1. Owen Hart
2. Nobohiku Takada
3. Ric Flair
4. Ricky Steamboat
5. Ted DiBiase
6. Masa Saito
7. Tatsumi Fujinami
8. Dick Murdoch
9. Barry Windham
10. Bruiser Brody
11. Curt Hennig
12. Bret Hart
13. Keichi Yamada
14. Terry Gordy
15. Rick Martel
16. Tiger Mask
17. Randy Savage
18. Tully Blanchard
19. Bobby Eaton
20. Hiroshi Hase
21. Buzz Sawyer
22. Terry Taylor
23. Brad Armstrong
24. Shiro Koshinaka
25. Kazuo Yamazaki
26. Riki Choshu
27. Yoshiaki Yatsu
28. Stan Lane
29. Yoshiaki Fujiwara
30. Genichiro Tenryu

TAG TEAMS
1. Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane
2. Rick Martel & Tito Santana
3. Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson
4. Tatsumi Fujinami & Kengo Kimura
5. Riki Choshu & Masa Saito
6. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy
7. Rougeau Brothers
8. Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Kazuo Yamazaki
9. Road Warriors
10. Islanders
11. Genichiro Tenryu & Ashura Hara
12. Tiger Mask & Shinichi Nakano
13. Bruce Hart & Brian Pillman
14. Rock & Roll Express
15. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu
16. Midnight Rockers
17. Fantastics
18. Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner
19. Toshiaki Kawada & Samson Fuyuki
20. Super Strong Machine & Hiro Saito

WOMEN
1. Chigusa Nagayo
2. Lioness Asuka
3. Bull Nakano
4. Yukari Omori
5. Condor Saito
6. Yumiko Hotta
7. Itsuki Yamazaki
8. Kazue Nagahori
9. Noriyo Tateno
10. Leilani Kai
11. Mitsuko Nishiwaki
12. Dump Matsumoto
13. Rumi Kazama
14. Estelle Molina
15. Mika Komatsu
16. Sherri Martel
17. Lola Gonzales
18. Yumi Oguar
19. Drill Nakamae
20. Debbie Combs



February 29, 1988

WWF
There has been some talk about whether the Hogan-Steamboat “Loser Leaves WWF” Wrestlemania match will truly see the loser leave the promotion. My latest word is that it is indeed a work: neither Hogan nor Steamboat has any plans to leave the company, but whoever loses WILL be taking a sabbatical for a while. The winner of the match, however, is a very closely guarded secret.

Dick Ebersol was recently quoted in USA Today, and said he wasn’t interested in doing live WWF shows because it wouldn’t be profitable. But the truth is: they won’t even get the chance to turn down a timeslot, because NBC now feels that WWF couldn’t do good numbers in primetime. I was actually surprised at how good the rating for “Friday Night’s Main Event” was, because it showed how “over” wrestling is to the general public. It showed that wrestling fans are loyal, and will watch no matter when it’s on. The show might have gotten a slightly higher rating if Ricky Steamboat was wrestling, but this does put Steamboat’s value in perspective: to a cult audience, which numbers in the millions, Steamboat’s the biggest wrestler in the country—probably bigger than Hogan was when he first won the title in 1984. But the WWF is almost certainly not capable of making it in primetime yet. Steamboat’s not nearly as over as Antonio Inoki in his heyday, although he’s about the same level as Chigusa Nagayo … Even though Vince McMahon is the most successful moneymaking wrestling promoter of all time, there isn’t as much media interest as there was with New Japan in 1982 …

The next SNME is scheduled for 3/12, and will be taped on 3/7 from Nashville. Two days later, the WWF will be running a TV taping in Winston-Salem, NC, 20 miles outside of Greensboro. As you can see, Titan smells blood, and is going straight for Crockett’s jugular.

Billy Jack Haynes is gone. The public story is that he quit because of health reasons, but according to Haynes, he wanted a bigger push for both himself and Brady Boone.
[9]

It turns out Bamm Bamm Bigelow didn’t have knee surgery after all; he’s postponing until after Wrestlemania, when he and many other wrestlers will be taking a one-month break …

Jimmy Snuka will be leaving the WWF after Wrestlemania, to nurse nagging injuries.

Gene Okerlund’s son Todd is on the U.S. Ice Hockey Team in the Olympics.

NWA
Paul Boesch is on the NWA Board of Directors. He’s the only non-promoter ever on the board. This is more of a figurehead position, and they’re using his name value in Houston.

The Crockett Cup is being advertised over two nights (4/22 and 4/23) and will be held in two cities (Greenville, SC and finals in Greensboro, NC). There was some talk of them bringing in some World Class names for the shows, but that appears to have fizzled out due to the big merger.

Shane Douglas has returned to the promotion. He’s getting a moderate midcard push, and is using the sleeper hold as his finisher.

Lex Luger is still being given a monster babyface push, but I can’t emphasize enough how stale it’s getting. Sometimes, you’ll look at something and make a snap judgment without examining details. Luger is like that. You look at him, and everyone gushes about how popular he is and how amazing his physique is. But good physiques, as much as they have driven business in the past, appear to be out of fashion. More and more fans appear to be gravitating towards the more athletic, technical style of wrestling, and Luger is about as far away from that style as you could possibly get. Still, he could be a big star, and he probably will be to some degree, but his support from the audience just isn’t there. The fact that Sting is still out with his injuries also means the company is pushing Luger more, which translates to even more resentment from the crowds.

AWA
ESPN has signed a new two-year contract with the AWA, and the contract calls for exclusivity. As such, World Class will no longer be on ESPN. (Well, “World Class” won’t be on the network anyway, but you know what I mean.)

The Nasty Boys have been released, and they may be on their way to Memphis, according to some sources.

On the Minneapolis TV show which aired on 2/21, Verne said that all the promoters in the Midwest love Greg as the champion. Of course, the old man also lost his sanity about five years ago.

MEMPHIS
The merger between Memphis, World Class and Continental is now official … The final show under the WCCW banner on 2/18 drew 5,000 fans, and was headlined by Al Perez vs. Terry Taylor. Both men will be part of the new merged territory, as will Maxx Payne, Jeff Jarrett, Tommy Rich, the Samoan Swat Team (Samu Onoaii (sp) and Solafa (sp) Fatu) and Giant Kokina. [10]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] All as OTL. IOTL, the unnamed PPV would, of course, become Summerslam.

[2] This is part of Estefan’s “Let It Loose” World Tour, which is mostly as OTL.

[3] Meltzer is referring to Wrestlerock ‘86 (covered in Post #66), which featured a short concert from Waylon Jennings, as OTL.

[4] As OTL (although Haynes and Smith weren’t feuding).

[5] This is all mostly as OTL, except the Rock & Roll Express were asked to job to Warlord and Ivan Koloff instead, and Ricky Morton basically just laid down in protest and let himself be pinned in seconds. He and Robert Gibson were promptly fired.

[6] Orndorff wasn’t so lucky IOTL: nagging problems from a previous arm injury suffered during his big feud with Hulk Hogan in 1986 forced him into retirement in early 1988, and Orndorff wrestled his final match for the WWF on January 4, 1988 against Rick Rude. He would eventually return to in-ring action for WCW in 1990. Here, because his schedule is a little lighter and he has less to do, his in-ring career is slightly longer.

[7] All as OTL.

[8] Meltzer’s rankings are a bit different than OTL, with Steamboat considerably higher in the men’s Top 30 ITTL due to his greater workrate, the Hart Foundation (which have disbanded) completely absent from the tag teams, and Sherri just a hair higher on the women’s Top 20.

[9] Haynes’ departure was actually a combination of these reasons that get more and more complicated every time Haynes tells it, and his firing strikes me as bound to happen, even ITTL.

[10] Meltzer’s misspellings of Samu Anoa’i and Solofa Fatu’s (later known OTL as Rikishi, of course) names are consistent with his style of getting names as close as he can, but still butchering them. Giant Kokina, as mentioned in a previous post, is Yokozuna.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

And after much too long, I'm finally back with this update. Again, thanks to everyone for being so patient with me. And as the territorial nature of the wrestling business continues to dissolve ITTL similar to how it did IOTL, at least most of them can have some solace that they're in at least a little better shape than OTL.

Coming up: the last Saturday Night's Main Event before Wrestlemania, and a legend says goodbye to the WWF. Also: do the letters WCW mean anything to you?
 
Good update; not surprising that they'd bring Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine in, since they were big at this time in the late 1980s (the late Selena Quintanilla-Perez was probably a fan of hers, IMO (1))...

(1) Speaking of which, hope Selena still has a big career ITTL, and avoids her tragic death OTL...
 
Yeah, good update.

Hope you mention Terry Taylor; a potentially great talent ruined by one bad gimmick in the WWF--The Red Rooster. Hopefully, assuming he still goes to WWF, that changes ITTL...
 
Yeah, one of my favorite Wrestlecrap "Rewriting The Book" entries was where Taylor turned heel in the middle of his debut by beating the crap out of Okerlund, thus provoking a feud with Hogan.
 
Another part of that Taylor "Rewriting the Book" entry I liked were his feuds with the Hart brothers, Bret and Owen; if anyone could give Taylor a good match, it would be Bret and Owen, as Bret was approaching his peak and Owen was not far behind...
 
Terry Taylor was a legit good wrestler. World-class like Steamboat no, but he was always one of the best workers in the territories he was in. Even his WCW run post-Rooster wasn't bad, he just couldn't overcome the damage of the Rooster.
 
Terry Taylor was a legit good wrestler. World-class like Steamboat no, but he was always one of the best workers in the territories he was in. Even his WCW run post-Rooster wasn't bad, he just couldn't overcome the damage of the Rooster.
Indeed. Is he still working behind the scenes?
 
The next update will be on the way soon. Until then, time to get to some questions! :)

Thanks for the memories! I was actually in Hands Across America in Whittier, CA. I had bought a "ticket" for a $10 donation and was assigned there. I was 14 years old at the time.

Alas, I was still growing inside my mother at that point. Watching YouTube videos about the event, it seems to be a great combination of 1980s cheesiness and nationwide brotherhood.

Good update; not surprising that they'd bring Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine in, since they were big at this time in the late 1980s (the late Selena Quintanilla-Perez was probably a fan of hers, IMO (1))...

(1) Speaking of which, hope Selena still has a big career ITTL, and avoids her tragic death OTL...

The band's management and music executives are going to fight against it; they will view the band performing at a wrestling show to be crass or "beneath" such an established music act. But with a combination of Vince's and Trump's money, I figure they'd have no trouble convincing the MSM to perform at least a mini-concert at 'Mania.

As for Selena, she's 16 at this point, and she continues to sing at various small events across her native Texas, just as OTL.

Woefully Crap Wrestling? not so in the OTL but in this one maybe.

You might just be surprised. ;)

Cool to see a brief mention of Mexico and Japan even if the butterflies hadnt reached them yet.

This will definitely change as the winds generated from flapping reach across the oceans, but you are correct: the wrestling scenes in Japan and Mexico are largely the same at this point.

Hope you mention Terry Taylor; a potentially great talent ruined by one bad gimmick in the WWF--The Red Rooster. Hopefully, assuming he still goes to WWF, that changes ITTL...

Terry Taylor was a legit good wrestler. World-class like Steamboat no, but he was always one of the best workers in the territories he was in. Even his WCW run post-Rooster wasn't bad, he just couldn't overcome the damage of the Rooster.

Indeed. Is he still working behind the scenes?

Which is why I hope Taylor and Steamboat feud ITTL; it'd be a decent feud, IMO...

A push towards the IC belt for Taylor, get him over enough with a decent gimmick, and get a few good years out of him at least?

It'd be better than what he got IOTL...

Terry Taylor is currently part of the NWA at this point after Crockett's buying out the UWF, and if you recall, he wrestled Lex Luger at Starrcade '87 in a match to unify the NWA and UWF TV Titles, coming up the loser. So he's definitely doing OK at this point, even if he's not turning any heads in the biz just yet.

As for whether this will happen, or if he eventually finds himself up in Connecticut: keep reading!
 
Early March 1988: Worldwide Championship Wrestling
Wcw.jpg


March 7, 1988


“I wish you’d stick around for Wrestlemania,” Vince McMahon said as he smiled sadly. “But nonetheless, I wish you well.” The owner of the WWF extended his hand, which was grabbed by a slightly larger, hairier hand, which shook it tentatively.

“Thank you so much, Vince,” replied a voice in a thick Italian accent. “I’m gonna miss the guys around here.”

“We’ll all miss you, too,” McMahon said. “You’re a part of this company’s history.”

With that, Bruno Sammartino got up from his chair and exited McMahon’s office. The former WWF Champion had just finished doing match commentary for the tapings of the episodes of Superstars leading up to Wrestlemania 4, and his contract had finally expired. [1]

The 57-year-old Sammartino made his way down the halls, taking in the final sights of Titan before he left for good.

---

“You know that once you leave this company, you won’t be able to get a job anywhere else?” joked Bobby Heenan as he shook Sammartino’s hand. “Except maybe in a commercial for those California Raisins…you look an awful lot like ‘em, you know that?”

Sammartino couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Bobby, if I can borrow a phrase from Monsoon—will you stop?”

Heenan chuckled himself. “You know I love you, Bruno. Take care of yourself!”

Sammartino nodded as he and Heenan parted ways. After looking back over his shoulder at Heenan one last time, Sammartino turned back around to find Ricky Steamboat himself standing in front of him, smiling sadly. Without a word, Steamboat put his arms around Sammartino, locking him in a masculine hug.

Steamboat shook his head slowly as he let go of the embrace. “It’s going to be so strange not seeing you around here,” he said. “You’re like the Babe Ruth of the WWF.”

Sammartino just shook his head. “Stop, just stop that…”

“I’m completely serious,” Steamboat replied. “This company would be nothing at all without you. When I was a kid growing up in New York, I dreamed of going to Madison Square Garden just to see you wrestle, but I was too young. [2] When I was in high school, you were the absolute best. Kiniski, Giant Baba, the Sheik, Ernie Ladd—you fought, and beat, all of them. When I broke into the biz in ’76, you were still at the top of your game. And that feud with Zbyszko? Forget about it—the stuff of legends.” [3]

Sammartino simply smiled, looking down at the floor. “Well, my days are behind me,” he said before looking Steamboat in the eye again. “This is your era now. The matches you’re putting out, the great feuds you’re part of, and the amazing way you connect with the kids—it’s all great for this business. Vince made a great choice to captain this ship.”

Steamboat smiled, trying to keep a tear from coming to his eye at the older man’s words, and then stuck his hand out. “Don’t be a stranger,” he said. “Come back and see everybody from time to time…”

Sammartino just smiled as he shook Steamboat’s hand. Maybe he would come back, maybe he wouldn’t. But with Ricky Steamboat at the wheel, this company was going to be in good hands for a long time to come. [4]

---------------------------------------------------------------

March 5, 1988

The fourteenth episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event airs on NBC, a mere three weeks before Wrestlemania 4. This is the first SNME to use a newly created instrumental theme specifically for the show, as opposed to the Animotion song “Obsession”, which had been used as the theme song for every episode prior. [5]

Two titles are defended on the show. Randy Savage defends the Intercontinental Championship against Brutus Beefcake, the Macho Man looking to go into Wrestlemania with a decisive win over the powerful heel. Beefcake manages to overpower Savage for a while, but in the end, Savage fights back and hits the flying elbow drop for the 1-2-3. After the match, Bret Hart appears on the entrance ramp, applauding in respect for his future Wrestlemania opponent. In the second title match of the night, “Scary” Sherri Martel puts her Women’s Title on the line against the “New Zealand Women’s Champion”, Desiree Petersen. Although Petersen was born in New Zealand, the “New Zealand Women’s Championship” didn’t (and still doesn’t) exist; this is simply a promotional tactic as part of Sherri’s gimmick of wrestling women’s champions “from around the world”. Sherri makes quick work of Petersen, continuing her dominant reign as Women’s Champion. Bad News Brown continues his winning streak since his debut by squashing Koko B. Ware, and Team Victory (Tito Santana & Rick Martel) best The Outlaws (Sam Houston & Ron Bass) in a Two out of Three falls match, beating them in two straight falls.

Andre the Giant is set to face Boris Zukhov on the show, with Bamm Bamm Bigelow in Andre’s corner. After Andre makes quick work of the big Russian, Bigelow enters the ring to celebrate with Andre…only to turn heel by throwing the giant into the corner and hitting him with a splash. To the crowd’s shock, Bigelow then exits the ring and grabs a steel chair, and smacks the dazed Andre with it. When Mean Gene interviews Bigelow backstage after the attack, Bigelow states that Andre has “gone soft” since losing to Hogan, and berates the man he once looked up to for failing to win when the stakes were so high. Bigelow challenges his former tag team partner to a match at Wrestlemania, vowing to prove “there’s a new most dominant man in the WWF”.

Throughout the show, Wrestlemania 4 is heavily hyped. Steamboat vs. Hogan, Savage vs. Hart and Jake Roberts vs. Rick Rude are given particular attention, and the matchups of Rougeaus vs. Team Victory, Honky Tonk Man vs. Jimmy Snuka, Ted DiBiase vs. Junkyard Dog, and Don Muraco vs. “Cowboy” Bob Orton are all at least briefly touched upon. Both Ricky Steamboat and Hulk Hogan are featured in backstage segments, being interviewed by Gene Okerlund.

Towards its end, the show also contains a video tribute to the recently departed Bruno Sammartino, which was originally not scheduled for the show, but was pushed for by Ricky Steamboat himself backstage as a way for the company to properly say goodbye to the longest-reigning WWF Champion of all time.

---

GENE OKERLUND: Ladies and gentlemen, my guests at this time, Bobby “the Brain” Heenan, and the World Wrestling Federation Champion, Hulk Hogan!

(Heenan and Hogan enter from off-camera)

OKERLUND: Hogan, in three weeks, you will face Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat at Wrestlemania for the World Wrestling Federation Championship, with both of your careers on the line! Tell me, what are your thoughts having to face a man who has pinned you several times before?

BOBBY HEENAN: Excuse me…what did you just say?

OKERLUND: I said, what are Hogan’s thoughts about having to face a man who has beaten him…

HULK HOGAN: Mean Gene, will you do us a favor, and stop dwelling in the past! The fact of the matter is, I’ve defeated the largest athlete in the history of this business, Andre the Giant! And because I’ve beaten the biggest, that automatically makes me the absolute best, brother!

HEENAN: Ricky Steamboat only wishes he could be half the man that Hulk Hogan is, and he’ll never be even a fraction of the champion that Hulk is!

HOGAN: Steamboat, you’ve been lucky before. But in three weeks, your luck is gonna run out. You’re hangin’ by a thread, and I’m the one holding the knife looking down over you. And when I finally cut that rope, brother, you’ll be gone—out of my life for good! The best thing you can do is come out and forfeit the match before it even happens, because at least that way you’ll save yourself a beating, brother!

OKERLUND: Heenan and Hogan, you are certainly assuming quite a lot before this match even happens…

HEENAN: I don’t assume. I make things happen! And this is what’s going to happen: Hulk Hogan is going to pin the “Drag Queen”, 1-2-3, and send that stupid little gnat out of the World Wrestling Federation forever. The man is the greatest of all time, and that’s the bottom line!

HOGAN: Look me in the eye when I say this, Okerlund: I will. NOT. LOSE! Now get out of our way, pipsqueak!

(Hogan and Heenan exit)

OKERLUND: Alright, thank you, gentlemen. As you can see, Hogan and his manager, Bobby Heenan, certainly very confident heading into Wrestlemania, but I have to wonder if that confidence will backfire on them? Back to you, Vince!

---

GENE OKERLUND: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, my guest, Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat!

(Ricky Steamboat enters from off-camera)

OKERLUND: Dragon, at Wrestlemania, you are basically putting your life’s blood on the line against Hulk Hogan. We’ve heard from the Hulk and Bobby “the Brain” Heenan earlier tonight, now I’d like to get your thoughts. What is your mentality, going into a match that will either end with you becoming World Champion again, or leaving the World Wrestling Federation for good?

RICKY STEAMBOAT: Mean Gene, believe me, I’ve had several sleepless nights ever since Hulk Hogan accepted my challenge. And not a night goes by that I think: did I make a mistake? Did I bite off more than I can chew by putting my whole career on the line at Wrestlemania? And just a few days ago, it hit me. I have something that I have to prove to not just Hulk Hogan, but the entire world. I need to prove that I am not just a better champion than him, but a better man than him. This is a match that I absolutely cannot afford to lose! I have to win! And when I do, I’ll send that nasty bully Hulk Hogan and his little weasel sidekick out of this business for good! And maybe then, they’ll see the errors of their ways. Because when this Dragon gets on fire, his opponents burn…

OKERLUND: Alright, thank you, Ricky Steamboat. I have to believe that look of intensity in the eyes of the Dragon, but will it be enough to carry him to victory in three weeks’ time? Vince, back to you!

---

Saturday Night’s Main Event #14 results
WWF Intercontinental Championship
: Randy “Macho Man” Savage (c) (w/ Miss Elizabeth) def. Brutus Beefcake (7:42)
WWF Women’s Championship: “Scary” Sherri Martel (c) def. Desiree Petersen (1:23)
Team Victory (Tito Santana & Rick Martel) def. The Outlaws (Ron Bass & Sam Houston) in a 2 Out of 3 Falls Match 2-0 (10:16)
Bad News Brown def. Koko B. Ware (2:01)
Andre the Giant (w/ Bamm Bamm Bigelow) def. Boris Zukhov (w/ Nikolai Volkoff & Slick) (1:20)

--------------------------------------------------------

March 14, 1988

Worldwide Championship Wrestling
*from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“WCW” redirects here. For the former Australian wrestling promotion, see World Championship Wrestling. For other uses, see WCW (disambiguation).

Worldwide Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee which operated from 1988 to 1997. The company was founded when World Class Championship Wrestling and the Continental Wrestling Association merged in early 1988. The promotion served as a competitor with the World Wrestling Federation and Jim Crockett Promotions (later Nonstop Wrestling Action) until its closure in 1997 due to financial difficulties and increased competition from WWF and NWA. The rights to Worldwide Championship Wrestling’s tape library are currently owned by WWF.

1. History
A. Foundation and Early Growth (1988-1990)
B. The Departure of the Von Erichs (1991-1995)
C. Demise (1996-1997)
2. Programming
3. Alumni
A. Singles wrestlers and managers
B. Tag teams and stables

History


Foundation and Early Growth (1988-1990)
WCW was founded by Jerry Jarrett, Jerry Lawler and Jerry Blackwell as an attempt to create a third national promotion, alongside the World Wrestling Federation and Jim Crockett Promotions/NWA. WCW was created through a merger of the Dallas-based World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) and the Memphis-based Continental Wrestling Association (CWA), several years after a planned merger of Continental and the American Wrestling Association (AWA) fell through. [6]

Due to personal health problems, Fritz Von Erich had decided to sell his interest in World Class in 1987, and the short-lived Wild West Wrestling promotion had recently been absorbed into World Class. CWA owner Jerry Jarrett was interested in taking his promotion nationwide, and Jerry Blackwell, who had left the AWA in late 1986, wished to retire from in-ring competition and begin behind-the-scenes work as a booker and ring agent. After a few months of negotiation, Jarrett and Jerry Lawler agreed to work together to take Continental Wrestling nationwide, and Blackwell was brought on as a partner and majority holder. WCCW booker Ken Mantell, who was hired as assistant booker in WCW, managed to convince Kerry and Kevin Von Erich, the two Von Erich brothers with the highest creative control and pull in WCCW, to relocate to Memphis in exchange for 33 percent ownership of the new company. Mike Von Erich was allegedly offered a percentage of ownership [citation needed], but he declined, preferring to remain retired from the wrestling business until his death from heart failure in 2001.

WCW held its first official show in early 1988, several days after the WWF’s Wrestlemania 4 pay-per-view. A tournament for the first ever WCW World Champion was held over the next several weeks, and ultimately … [7]

...

Alumni [8]

Singles wrestlers & managers
Al Perez
Allen Martin
Austin Idol
Big Bubba
Billy Joe Travis
Bobby Jaggers
“Bruiser” Brian Lee
Bunkhouse Buck
Cactus Jack Manson
Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Chavo Guerrero Sr.
“Gentleman” Chris Adams
Doomsday
Eddie Guerrero
Gary Young
Giant Kokina
Hector Guerrero
Iceman King Parsons
Jeff Jarrett
Jerry Jarrett
Jerry Lawler
Jim Cornette
Kerry Von Erich
Ken Raper
Kevin Von Erich
Lord Humungous
Mando Guerrero
Manny Fernandez
Marcus Well
Mark Starr
Maxx Payne
Moondog Rex
Moondog Spot
Muadib
Phil Hickerson
Rick Nelson
“Soul Man” Rocky Johnson
Scott Hall
Sid Vicious
Skandor Akbar
Terry Taylor
Tim Horner
Tojo Yamamoto
“Wildfire” Tommy Rich

Tag teams & stables
The Canadian Destroyers (Bear & Moose)
Chris Jericho & Lance Storm
The Hillbillies (Cousin Festus & Cousin Griz)
The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags)
Ron & Don Harris
The Samoan Swat Team (Solofa Fatu & Samu Anoa’i)
Shaun & Steve Simpson

---------------------------------------------------------

March 20, 1988

WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER – 3/20/1988
Huge news starts us off this week. On 3/14, it officially happened. Both World Class Championship Wrestling and Continental/Mid-South Wrestling no longer exist. In their place is the newly named “Worldwide Championship Wrestling” (although the promotion is far from “worldwide”, but that’s beside the point). The debut show isn’t set to take place until next month, but plenty of names are being advertised for it, including an appearance by Jerry Blackwell, who will be the on-screen authority figure, I’m told. More details on WCW happenings are covered below.

WWF
Wrestlemania will be longer than 2 ½ hours, as originally was reported. Vince reserved four hours of satellite time, which means the show is probably going to run between 3 ½ hours to 3 hours, 45 minutes. Word is they are planning at least two of the matches to run pretty long, and the Gloria Estefan concert is probably going to eat up a good chunk of time as well. As we stand, the currently planned card is listed below (they may add a match or two to pad out time if they end up running short).

Wrestlemania Card
Hulk Hogan vs. Ricky Steamboat (WWF Title Match)
Randy Savage vs. Bret Hart (IC Title Match)
Rougeau Brothers vs. Santana & Martel (Tag Title Match)
Jake Roberts vs. Rick Rude
Andre the Giant vs. Bamm Bamm Bigelow
Jim Neidhart vs. Davey Boy Smith
Ted DiBiase vs. Junkfood Dog
Bob Orton Jr. vs. Don Muraco
Honky Tonk Man vs. Jimmy Snuka
20-man Battle royal for a trophy

The WWF have had a lot of ads in trade magazines recently, because they’re dropping their TV production company and starting production in-house. Ads were there for a TV play-by-play guy, an interview guy, and a senior producer, so expect some on-screen changes in the next several months.

Bad News insisted on changing his ring name from “Allen” to “Brown” when he joined the company. He was afraid they would trademark his name, which would leave him screwed if he ever left.

NWA
Ken Osmond, who played Eddie Haskell on “Leave It to Beaver”, will be at the Clash of the Champions special on TBS.
[9] No offence, but he’s not exactly Gloria Estefan, and this makes Crockett’s show look like a cheap imitation. If you ask this writer, they should have avoided the celebrity involvement, unless they got somebody huge like Bob Hope or Sylvester Stallone. The main event of the show will be Magnum T.A. vs Ric Flair in a steel cage match for the Title, with three guest judges at ringside to decide the match if it goes for the hour time limit. Can the title change hands based on this decision? If not, giving Flair a victory via a decision means nothing.

It’s going to be difficult for the Clash to NOT have more viewers than Wrestlemania, based on the fact that it’s on free TV. TBS is also a huge wrestling station, so if the Clash isn’t the most-watched show in Crockett’s history, then Crockett should be really ashamed.

Big Bubba Rogers may be on his way out soon. The WWF is still very interested in him, and he is looking for a bigger paycheck. Crockett has reportedly promised him another program with Magnum for the title if he stays, so things are still very much up in the air at this point.

Holy Jesus, am I getting tired of getting asked why they’re called the “Four Horsemen” when there are five of them…

WCW
Moondog Rex and Moondog Spot are now officially employed, and will be teaming as the Moondogs at the first TV taping. Let’s just hope they don’t injure anyone…
[10]

AWA
At the TV taping on 3/18 … Adrian Adonis defeated Greg Gagne to win the AWA World Championship. Literally about 75 percent of the crowd were behind Adonis for the entire match, despite him being the heel in the match. It was almost like watching a Flair match, except the people were definitively more behind Adonis here … After the match, Adonis attacked Greg to the crowd’s encouragement, and they booed when Verne hobbled down to the ring to help his son.

Badd Company (who left Continental when it merged with WCCW and opted not to sign with the new Worldwide) also made their debut at the TV taping, defeating Hector & Mando Guerrero. Also making his debut as the team’s new manager was a new guy, “Diamond” Dallas Paige (sic). My sources tell me this is Florida nightclub owner Paige (sic) (yes, that’s his real first name) Falkinburg, who is using a rather poor Jesse Ventura imitation as his gimmick. It’s…interesting, but it’s nothing that really hasn’t been seen before.
[11]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] Sammartino’s contract also ended in early March 1988 IOTL, and he left the WWF at this exact same time.

[2] After a race riot broke out in 1957 after babyface Antonino Rocca busted open heel Dick the Bruiser during a tag team match, the New York state athletic commission set very strict rules for Madison Square Garden, one of which was that no children under age 14 could attend a match in the Garden. This rule was repealed in the mid-1970s.

[3] Steamboat is referring to the 1980 feud between Sammartino and a then up-and-coming Larry Zbyszko, in which the young student turned heel on the veteran. The two had a series of matches, most famously a main event match at Shea Stadium on August 9th, 1980 inside a steel cage, which Sammartino won. (Interestingly, Hulk Hogan also wrestled Andre the Giant on the same card!)

[4] IOTL, of course, it’s well-documented that Bruno Sammartino’s exit from the WWF left a very sour taste in both his and the company’s mouth. The Living Legend publicly criticized the WWF’s emphasis on showmanship over in-ring ability, its over-the-top presentation, and later, its obscene and often distasteful angles. Here, his exit from the WWF is much smoother and mutually respectful due to the greater focus on actual wrestling in the company, and a down-to-earth guy like Steamboat leading the locker room.

[5] As OTL.

[6] The Continental-AWA merger also flopped IOTL, but did manage to squeeze out one pay-per-view, SuperClash III, which bombed hard.

[7] Withholding the majority of this article from this point forward to avoid too many spoilers. ;)

[8] This is only a partial list of alumni, again, to avoid spoilers. Sorry!

[9] As OTL, to promote the premiere of The New Leave It to Beaver on TBS.

[10] A not-so-subtle jab at how Moondog Spot infamously injured Hulk Hogan in 1985 ITTL, our POD that set us on the path we are now.

[11] Believe it or not, future WCW World Champion and yoga instructor Diamond Dallas Page actually did get his start all the way back in 1988 in the AWA, managing the tag team Badd Company. He tried out for the WWF in 1990 and was turned down, but he did make an appearance at Wrestlemania VI, driving a Cadillac containing the tag team Rhythm & Blues (Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine) to the ring. It wouldn’t be until 1991, at the age of 35, that he made his in-ring debut for WCW. We’ll see how his career unfolds ITTL…

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Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! I hope you enjoyed this update, and are prepared for the drive to Wrestlemania. Also, it looks like Ted Turner will have to find another three-letter abbreviation to use when/if he buys out Jim Crockett ITTL…

Speaking of which: coming up, a look at NWA’s Clash of Champions show. And then: Ricky Steamboat. Hulk Hogan. Who will leave the WWF at Wrestlemania 4? You don’t want to miss it!
 
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