We are finally ready for the third and final of the first day release Coliseum Home Video tapes. Vince is the host again and he informs us that this tape chronicles the history of the WWF.
Hulk Hogan & Andre the Giant
vs
Big John Studd, Adrian Adonis, & Dick Murdoch
(7/15/1984, Meadowlands)
Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon & Red Bastien
This is a pretty standard southern tag match, but with double the face in peril segments. Yes, Andre plays face in peril here for a bit.
The highlight was Andre putting all three guys in the corner and then squashing them with the help of Hogan. For some reason Andre ran Studd off later in the match, making it two on two. A fun big butt splash by Andre for the win.
Overall a pretty standard tag match here, but with lots of heat and charisma. Seeing Murdoch and Adonis bump for Hogan and Andre was fun enough.
Rating: **
Fabulous Moolah w/ Lou Albano vs Wendi Richter w/ Cyndi Lauper
(7/23/1984, Madison Square Gardens)
Pre-match has Okerlund interview Captain Lou Albano and Moolah. Moolah is pretty low key and Albano does not think she can be beaten. She has been champion for 27 years!
Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon & Gene Okerlund
I won’t be able to rate this one, as there are a lot of video cuts. Cyndi Lauper is by far the highlight of this whole thing. She’s so great cheering on Richter and getting in Moolah and Albano’s faces.
The finish has Moolah go for the back suplex, but Richter gets her shoulder up at two to get the win and the title.
Post match Moolah nails the referee with a really stiff dropkick.
Gorilla Monsoon vs Baron Mikel Sculina
Announcer: Vince McMahon
Muhammad Ali is in the front row. After all the hype on Titans of Wrestling, I am very excited to see Sculina.
The match is nothing and this is all about the angle. Although Baron has a nice flurry to start, before Gorilla took him apart with chops.
The poor Baron just walks away as Ali takes off his jacket, shirt, and shoes to go after Gorilla.
The two circle, before Gorilla grabs him in an airplane spin and gets him all dizzy. Ali’s seconds lead him away. Such a weird angle. I guess this helps establish that Antonio Inoki can defeat Ali in a fight, but Ali looked like such a punk.
After the match Gorilla gives a great interview, using his classic “this guy doesn’t know a wrist lock from a wrist watch” commentary line. Gorilla finishes with “Great boxer, terrible wrestler.”
Jimmy Snuka vs Bobby Bass
(10/29/1984, Hamilton, Ontario)
“No Class” Bobby Bass sneak attacks, but gets quickly squashed by Snuka and the Super Fly Splash.
Piper’s Pit with Jimmy Snuka
This is the classic segment where Piper hits Snuka with coconuts and runs away before Snuka can kill him. If you haven’t seen this angle, watch it now.
Jimmy Snuka vs Roddy Piper
(8/25/1984, Madison Square Gardens)
Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon & Lord Alfred Hayes
This was a super heated revenge match for Snuka. Piper got almost nothing in, as Snuka beat the crap out of him. Snuka even took Piper to the floor, ran him into the post and a chair to bust him open. The reaction from the crowd of Snuka realizing Piper was bleeding was amazing.
The finish saw Snuka go for the splash, but Piper gets up. As Snuka flies, Piper knocks him over the top for a count out win. This perfectly sets up rematches.
rating: *** 1/4
Cobra vs Black Tiger
(12/28/1984, Madison Square Gardens)
Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon & Gene Okerlund
The winner here will get the vacant WWF World Junior Heavyweight Title. From what we saw this looked like a well built NJPW style juniors match. There was a lot of nice matwork which built to some hot stuff, especially for the WWF in 1984. There was even a tope. Compare this match to the early Starrcade junior matches with the likes of Denny Brown and it’s staggering.
The finish was super hot with a Tombstone by Tiger for a nearfall. The second attempt was countered into a Tombstone and followed by a flying senton for the win. It’s really a shame that the WWF didn’t continue with Cobra and try to build a division around these guys.
We now get the build to Gene Okerlund wrestling.
Day 1
It’s 5:00 AM and Okerlund is smoking a cigar. That’s really hilarious. Hogan shows up and is pissed, tells him to throw away the bacon and eggs and gives him a real breakfast. Raw eggs. Hello salmonella!
They go for a run and Okerlund stops to grab a beer and a brat. Hogan is mad again.
Day 2
Weight training at the gym montage set to the Coliseum Home Video music.
Day 3
This time Hogan comes in at 6:00 AM. No cigar, so there is progress (although he might had finished it in the last hour). They go and run stadium steps. Gene trying to go up steps with Hogan on his back is pretty funny stuff.
Day 4
We get more illusions to Rocky as they run up steps in Minneapolis. They both think they got it, so look out Mr. Fuji and George Steele. 4 days does not seem like enough training for Okerlund.
Hulk Hogan & Gene Okerlund vs George Steele & Mr. Fuji
(8/26/1984, Met Center)
Announcer: Vince McMahon
To start, Hogan rips off Gene’s shirt to leave him in just trunks and boots. Vince yells “Oh my what acion!”.
I love that the match starts with Fuji and Hogan. What a mismatch. This match is pretty edited as well. We do get one of the most annoying Hogan spots, as he high fives Okerlund and the referee counts it as a tag. Luckily Okerlund runs between Steele’s legs to make a tag. Hogan does almost all the work, but Okerlund blind tags in at the end. Hogan slams him onto of Fuji for the win.
Afterwards we get a double pose session with Okerlund and Hogan.
Bruno Sammartino vs Larry Zbyzsko
(1/22/1980, Allentown, PA)
Announcer: Vince McMahon
This is a pretty famous television match. The two are still friends and are student and teacher at this point.
The story of the match is that Larry is trying to win, but Bruno lets up every time he has the advantage. It’s really a great story and seeing Larry getting more and more angry every time is awesome.
Eventually Larry gets tossed and comes back in super pissed. He gets real aggressive and stomps the shit out of Bruno. He grabs a chair and nails him a few times leaving him bloody.
This is perfect slow build story telling.
Rating: *** 1/2
Bruno gives a promo after being weighted in before the cage match. Bruno is confident.
Bruno Sammrtino vs Larry Zbyszko
(“Cage Match” 8/9/1980, Showdown at Shea)
Announcer: Vince McMahon
This was very similar to the Snuka-Piper match as it was all revenge and very little offense for the heel. Except here Bruno beats up Larry and then walks out. Nothing much to say about this one, except it’s just a good pay off to a long feud.
Rating: ***
In Conclusion:
Really a good mix of things from the current product and the past. Nothing you have to go out of your way to see (except maybe Snuka on Piper’s Pit), but a good way to spend 90 minutes.
Next Tuesday, I will be back with a review of the “Most Unusual Matches” tape. Remember to send in your requests for the “Fan Favourites” match that I will review on Thursday.
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