WWF Wrestling Challenge (06-13-1987) Retro TV Review and Show Notes

By: Karl Stern (@wiwcool, karl@whenitwascool.com)

These are the show notes for a retro pro wrestling review I recorded for our Patreon supporters. Here is the link to that show - https://www.patreon.com/posts/wwf-wrestling-06-23750677

June 13, 1987 - WWF (WWE) Wrestling Challenge TV Show

Bobby Heenan has a neck brace on. He was recently attacked by Ken Patera.

Hulk Hogan, Junkyard Dog, King Kong Bundy, Koko Ware, Butch Reed, Hart Foundation, Randy Savage, and George “The Animal” Steele in opening video.

1) Don Driggers & Mario Mancini vs. Kamala & Sika (Mr. Fuji & Kim Chee)

Sika starts off with Mancini. Gorilla tells us Kamala didn't learn to kick in the jungle.

Kamala pins Driggers. They talk about Ken Patera hurting Heenan's neck.

They tease Kamala off the top rope onto Driggers. Heenan says "I'd like to see that squash again."

Wrestler rebuttal time: Craig DeGeorge with Can-Am Connection. They talk about their match with The Islanders.

Short but fine.

2) Brutus Beefcake vs. Dusty Wolfe

Beefcake recently split with Greg Valentine and turned face at Wrestlemania III. Cut in interview with The Rougeaus complementing Brutus. Dusty Wolfe sells good but doughy. Brutus wins with the sleeper. Short and simple. Puts a smock on Wolfe. Cuts only a little hair then wakes up Wolfe. Crowd wants more hair cut.

Gene Okerlund with the Killer Bees. Jim Brunzell not very good on promos but not horrible. Looks around everywhere except the camera. Brian Blair much better. Kind of has the Hulk Hogan cadence and references him in the promo. “Toes are tappin’ and wings are flappin’.”

3) Killer Khan (w/ Mr. Fuji) vs. Eric Cooper

Starts off in Sumo stance. Killer Khan constantly “Wilhelm” screaming. Iron Mike Sharpe level theatrics. Russian leg sweep called a suplex by Gorilla Monsoon. Heenan asks why Khans hair grows like that. Knee drop off the top finish.

Gene Okerlund with Slick. Mentions Butch Reed and now talk about One Man Gang coming to WWF. Gang comes into frame. 6'9" 450 pounds. Gang cuts a fair promo. Being built up for Hogan.

4) Steve Lombardi vs. Junkyard Dog

Grab Them Cakes playing. In set promo with Slick and Nikolai Volkoff. Listen up Holmes. Super simple match with lots of selling by Lombardi. Thump by JYD wins. Looking for some "jukers". Brings a kid in the ring to celebrate. JYD getting soft.

Craig DeGeorge with Ron Bass. Bass decent enough heel promo. Name drops Hulk Hogan, Ricky Steamboat, and Tito Santana. Hypes his whip basically.

Craig DeGeorge prerecorded special on Superstar Billy Graham. Recovering from hip surgery. Out in the desert.

Graham was only 44 years old then. Shows video of old school Billy Graham and the WWWF title.

5) Match in progress: Honky Tonk Man vs. Ricky Steamboat for WWF Intercontinental title.

Vince McMahon on commentary with Jesse Ventura. Steamboat is insanely good here. HTM all punches and kicks and clubbers. HTM does the upside down corner bump. Hart distracts ref. Hart gets bumped from ring then tied up in ropes. Unclear who pinned who but HTM wins. HTM straight out to the back.

6) Iron Mike Sharpe & Cowboy Bob Orton & Don Muraco vs. Hillbilly Jim & SD Jones & Billy Jack Haynes

Haynes starts off with Orton. BJH lots of fire. Muraco in to face Hillbilly Jim. Everybody in to do a turnbuckle squash spot on heels. Muraco tags Iron Mike. Muraco hits Sharpe accidentally and SD Jones pins Sharpe to win. The faces dance.

Gene Okerlund with Jimmy Hart talking about Honky Tonk Man winning the Intercontinental title. Hart Foundation onto set for interview. They are tag team champions. Say “next thing you know Danny Davis will beat Hulk Hogan for title and Harts will have all the belts.” They talk about the Killer Bees. Neidhart carries most of the promo. They talk about the Can-Ams and Demolition and British Bulldogs briefly. Bret Hart not that good on promo.

Footage of HTM celebrating Intercontinental title win with all the heels. Haku, Greg Valentine, Randy Savage, Harts, Islanders. No promo just celebration.

HTM will be on next week as well as Ken Patera, Islanders, Koko Ware, and Demolition.

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