Place To Be Nation Vintage Vault Refresh: Volume 2 - Saturday Night's Main Event

By Place To Be Nation Publications

In this volume, the writers of the Place To Be Nation take a look back and review each of the WWF network special events during the Federation Years named Saturday Night's Main Event and The Main Event. For most viewers, this is the era where wrestling and pop culture collided. The WWF and NBC changed the world of professional wrestling into sports entertainment. Join us as we take a look back at the events that shaped the sport.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Place To Be Nation Publications
• Release date: May 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310021169

Place To Be Nation Publications

The Place To Be Nation is the only Place to Be for sports, wrestling and pop culture! Home to the Kevin Kelly Show and History of Wrestling podcasts and more!

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SNME I – Uniondale, NY - May 11

SNME II – East Rutherford, NJ – October 5

SNME III – Hershey, PA – November 2

Saturday Night’s Main Event I – 5/11/85

May 11, 1985 (Recorded May 10, 1985)

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Uniondale, NY

Announcers: Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura

Attendance: 8,300

NBC Rating: 8.8

Fun Fact: The year is 1985. Vince McMahon is in the midst of changing the landscape of professional wrestling from a territorial system into his own global empire. The WWF has just pulled off their groundbreaking event, WrestleMania, and the Rock ‘N’ Wrestling era was in full swing. Dick Ebersol, the Executive Producer of Saturday Night Live, saw the huge ratings that the WWF had done in the special events they held on MTV in 1984 and 1985 and was looking to bring some of that ratings power to NBC. He struck a deal with McMahon to run periodic special events in place of Saturday Night Live. The Saturday Night’s Main Event specials were unique for their time in that they featured matches between top names instead of typical squash matches normally seen on television. When it debuted, SNME became the first professional wrestling program to be shown nationally in prime time since 1955.

1) The US Express & Ricky Steamboat defeat Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff & George Steele when Barry Windham pinned Steele with a roll up at 6:30

Fun Fact I: The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff captured the WWF tag titles at WrestleMania from the US Express and this match is a continuation of their feud.

Fun Fact II: William Jim Myers was born in April 1937 and grew up in Madison Heights, Michigan. He was athletic in high school, playing football, baseball, basketball and running track. He played football in the 50s for Michigan State before knee problems caused his football career to end. He would get his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State and later a master’s from Central Michigan before he began his teaching career back in Madison Heights. While teaching he also served as a football and amateur wrestling coach.

While looking to add some additional income to his teaching salary, Myers started wrestling in Detroit. He wanted to conceal his identity to protect his privacy, so he began wrestling under a mask and went by the name The Student. He was scouted by Bruno Sammartino and began wrestling in Pittsburgh, where he stopped wearing the mask and began going by the name George Steele. He soon made his way to the WWF under Vince McMahon, Sr. Steele’s character had been developed to one of a wild heel that would tear the ring turnbuckles apart with his teeth and was given the moniker the Animal to fit his persona. Steele would remain a heel until this night at the first SNME event where he would turn face as his partners leave him in the ring following their match.

Scott:

The first official match in SNME’s rich history pits the former tag champions vs. the current tag champions with their friends mixed in. On the heels of the first WrestleMania, and that dastardly title switch with Freddie Blassie’s cane, we keep the feud going on here at the Nassau Mausoleum. Man I remember getting so pumped up at 11 years old for this first big Saturday night show, particularly for our matches later but I was a big US Express mark and was hoping this would be a tag title match. We have a group of expert workers in the ring, with perhaps the exception of the Animal but that wasn’t really his gig anyway. Sheik and Volkoff were carrying some red hot heat in this match after stealing the tag titles at Mania and of course their anti-USA sentiments. Vince and Jesse were a great team, although early on Jesse was still getting accustomed to his role as color commentator. He would get better and better as the years progress. The action is back and forth with no wasted motion early on, and the Nassau crowd is bonkers until the Animal looks to make a tag but his partners drop off the apron and hang him out to dry. Barry Windham rolled Animal up for the win, but it’s the after-match that’s the main issue. Steele goes after a turnbuckle, but then the tag champions come in the ring and beat their partner down. It’s evident in this era of PPV that Animal would be a comedy babyface as opposed to his earlier heel incarnations in the pre-PPV era. The match itself isn’t much but the Steele turn was needed to get the new era of the WWF an extra fan-friendly character.

JT:

The inaugural installment of Saturday Night’s Main Event kicks off with the voices of the show, Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura, welcoming us to the Nassau Coliseum and for the premier of wrestling on NBC. This episode was coinciding with Mother’s Day weekend and that theme would come up throughout the night. Our opener is a spillover from WrestleMania, where Nikolai Volkoff and Iron Sheik upset the US Express for the tag team titles. The Express are looking for a measure of revenge and are set up to get their hands on the champs here, albeit the titles are not on the line as Ricky Steamboat and George Steele are also in the mix. Steamboat is still getting his feet wet in the promotion, having only debuted shortly before Mania. Steele is a heel stalwart, formerly managed by Lou Albano when the Captain was also a rulebreaker. Nikolai actually got the through the whole Russian national anthem, but the tide turned when the Express and Steamboat charged out to Born in the USA. Windham and Sheik kicked things off and Barry was full of fire early, flying around the ring and easily handling Sheik before spiking him down to the mat hard with a bodyslam. The faces worked some quick tags as they took the fight right to the pride of Tehran. Jesse was point immediately, calling out the strategy in the early goings. Sheik continued to be rattled, only gaining some daylight when he hooked Steamboat in an abdominal stretch. That was short-lived, though, and it led to a breakdown that saw all three heel tossed to the floor and forced to regroup. As the crowd cheered on the Express & Steamboat, we went to break. Ricky stayed hot after the break, hitting a powerslam and then a cross body off the top rope for a near fall. Sheik finally was able to tag Volkoff, but things didn’t go much better for the big Russian. A distraction by Steele would allow Nikolai to land a few shots in on Rotundo, but the former tag team champ fought through it and tagged out to Windham. After a sunset flip into the ropes, Nikolai escaped and tagged in Steele, who quickly looked to tag out, however Sheik and Volkoff dropped to the floor and refused. As Steele tried to sort things out, Windham rolled him up and grabbed the win for his team. After the bell, the champs attacked Steele while he munched on his turnbuckle but the Animal fought them off to a big pop. Albano sensed a potential reunion with his old friend and approached him in the ring, calming him down and completing the face turn. There wasn’t much to this one, as it was effectively a squash that existed to trigger Steele’s turn. The crowd was pretty fired up, and the faces looked crisp and pretty great overall. More six-men tags with these three would have been a very welcomed sight here in 1985.

*** Mean Gene Okerlund interviews Volkoff, Sheik and Freddie Blassie in the aisle. Blassie calls Steele a fruitcake and says he wasn’t tagging when he was supposed to per the plan. Steele would catch up to them and smack them around before ambling away. ***

*** Roddy Piper welcomes in his WrestleMania teammate Paul Orndorff for a special Piper’s Pit. Bob Orton is also present and Orndorff dares him to take a shot. Piper attempts to ease their tensions that had been boiling since Mania but then changes course and calls Orndorff a loser. They would snipe and threaten each other with Piper accusing Orndorff of having lost his nuts and says he will slap Orndorff for embarrassing everyone in MSG. Orndroff fires back and shoves Piper and then fight both Hot Rod and Orton off. Orndorff would load Piper up for the piledriver, but Orton smacked him from behind with the cast. That drew out Mr. T to protect Orndorff from further harm. ***

2) Hulk Hogan defeats Bob Orton by disqualification when Roddy Piper interferes at 6:54; Hogan retains WWF Heavyweight Title

Fun Fact: With Paul Orndorff out of the picture, the stage is set for Roddy Piper’s henchman, Bob Orton, to take on the world champion.

Scott:

We get a title match here which was very special since you didn’t see Hogan wrestle on the syndicated shows much back in those days. In fact the first World Title match I ever saw (after his win over the Iron Sheik) was on the first Hulkamania VHS tape. Ah, VHS wrestling tapes. Talk about childhood. Seeing Hogan taking wrestling advice from Mr. T is pretty comical. After some comedy work early, once Orton got going for the heel heat segment the match really took a good turn and was very entertaining. We know how great a worker Orton is and as he works the Champion over, we see Jesse start to really get going as a color announcer, egging Orton on to punish Hogan for a few more minutes before going for the pinfall. Hogan does his usual comebacks but as expected Roddy Piper wasn’t going to let his bodyguard Ace lose so we get the disqualification and a brawl with Mr. T follows. This feud continues to brew all year long. It was great to see Hogan wrestle, but the match itself was relatively basic.

JT:

After the Pit fiasco, Bob Orton had to dust himself off and regroup because he was set up to challenge Hulk Hogan in the very first WWF Title match in SNME history. The crowd was bananas for Hogan, natch, and he was all jacked up as he marched to the ring and posed for his adoring fans. After a break, the match got going and we would find out that both Roddy Piper and Mr. T had come out to act as cornermen. Orson tried for a fast start but stood no chance as Hogan smacked him around, slammed him to the mat and drove him to the floor before the Cowboy could even get his chaps off. Once he made it back in, Orton charged wildly but missed and smashed his shoulder into the post. Hogan pounced and worked the arm, targeting the cast and hammering away. Orton would eventually land a knee to the champ’s chest and locked in from there, unloading some right hands as Piper cheered him on. The Cowboy would pick up a near fall with an atomic drop, but it was a forceful kickout, meaning Orton wasn’t quite close yet. Piper and T would jaw on the floor as Orton maintained control, continuing to club away. The strikes were effective but stunted when the champ Hulked up and clobbered Orton with a clothesline and big elbow drop for a near fall. Orton wasn’t done though as he countered some punch in the corner with an atomic drop and then set up Hogan for his superplex. Hogan blocked that and knocked Orton to the mat. He would hit the legdrop but as he covered, Piper reached in and jabbed him in the face for the DQ. Piper leapt into the ring and laid some kicks in but T made the save. A brawl kicked off from there, with Orndorff joining the fray and driving Piper and Orton away as Ventura complained about the odds. This was a spirited little affair and I liked Orton’s comeback leading to the superplex tease. This also accomplished a few things as it established Hogan and his formula for the NBC audience but also continued both a troika of feuds for Piper between Hogan, T and Orndorff. Solid match a really well done angle.

3) Wendi Richter defeats Fabulous Moolah with an inside cradle to retain WWF Women’s Title at 4:00

Fun Fact: This is a continuation of the Richter/Moolah feud that has been boiling since Richter first won the title from Moolah at The Brawl to End it All. To prevent outside interference in this contest, Moolah has gone to the WWF and has a proclamation that bars Cyndi Lauper from the ringside area.

Scott:

In what many thought was the co-main event match of WrestleMania, Wendi Richter won back her title from Lelani Kai (or as Cyndi Lauper called her, LANNY KAI) after losing at War to Settle the Score. So to really beef up the debut episode of SNME, we have yet another title match stemming from the other big feud leading into Mania. This was probably supposed to be the passing of the torch match as Richter was red hot right now and Moolah was clearly on the far end of her Hall of Fame career. It’s such a different style of hair pulling and punches/kicks but it was better than some women’s matches back then. Richter wins the match with a small package on a Moolah body slam attempt. The match really wasn’t much but this was a big moment (or so we thought) for the company as one would think that Wendi Richter would be the champion for a very long time. That wouldn’t happen.

JT:

Nothing screams targeting a youthful audience like showcasing the ancient Fabulous Moolah. Before the match, Moolah informs Gene that she is tired of Cyndi Lauper’s interference and said she had paperwork banning the pop star from ringside. Lauper basically said that was horseshit and that she would be at ringside anyway. And she wasn’t lying and she and David Wolfe jogged out alongside the champion, all to a raucous pop. The Fink would read Moolah’s official proclamation, reiterating that Lauper was banned due to continued interference in past matches. The crowd did not like that one, but the pissed off Lauper was ushered to the back as they took a break. When we returned, we saw Lauper watching the match on a tiny monitor in the aisle and on the screen, Moolah was in control of the bout. Jesse noted that she has never been meaner as she choked away at the champ and then dumped her to the floor. Moolah was so slow by this point, tossing weak kicks at Richter and Wolfe, who remained at ringside. Moolah would allow herself to be distracted, allowing Wendi to knock her to the floor. Back in, Moolah grabbed a one count and went to work again with a sloppy sequence of strikes. Richter isn’t bad but when in there with this fossil, she really can’t get much done. And just when it looked like Moolah had things in control, Richter countered a slam with an inside cradle and nabbed the win to retain. Lauper charged down the aisle and celebrated with her friend, who still remained queen of the mountain. Match was not very good, with a couple of decent shots from Richter mixed in.

*** Gene Okerlund interviews Junkyard Dog and his mother Bertha, who is in town for Mother’s Day. She is very proud of her son and ready to watch his upcoming match. ***

4) Junkyard Dog defeats Pete Doherty with a powerslam at 3:15

Fun Fact: Pete Doherty, also known as the Duke of Dorchester, came into the WWWF in 1977 under Vince Sr. He was primarily used as a jobber for the stars of the day. His character was known for his missing teeth, his long blonde hair and his loud screaming in the ring.

Scott:

This match was nothing, just an opportunity for Vince to put another of his biggest stars on the screen in this debut episode. Really this entire episode was simply a showcase for all the WWF’s top stars so NBC would keep the show on the air for the SNL off-weeks. That’s probably why they told Jesse to be more neutral in his commentating than he normally would, to accentuate all the talent regardless of faces and heels. Pete Doherty is one of those lovable heel jobbers that you will see going ahead on Prime Time Wrestling and other house shows. JYD’s mom is here too as Mother’s Day was the next day, which is how we end this first episode. Cyndi Lauper throws a party for all the WWF’s superstars’ moms, which ends with some comedy hijinks with Moolah and a cake. This match was really nothing but an opportunity to see another top star.

JT:

Well, the poor Duke of Dorchester stood no chance here as JYD was competing live in front of his mama on Mother’s Day. Sorry Duke. Bertha proudly walked to the ring with her son and then parked it at ringside as he climbed in the ring to tussle with Doherty. Dog kicked things off with a big clothesline that knocked the Duke to the floor. As Duke started to give Bertha the business, Dog yanked him up by his hair, letting him dangle painfully. Once things got going back inside, Dog pelted Duke with his crawling headbutts and then slammed him off the top rope. After a couple more headbutts, Dog took Doherty down with a powerslam for the win. Squash city for the Dog.

*** Backstage, Cyndi Lauper hosts a Mother’s Day party for the whole roster. JYD is there with his mom as are Volkoff & Sheik, who trash talk the host. Freddie Blassie is with a young lass, who he claims is his mother Laura. Albano would read a poem as Hulk Hogan stood with his mother. Lauper and Richter were with Cyndi’s mother, who was very happy to have this party to celebrate all the moms out there. Moolah would crash the party to bitch about not getting invited and trash talk Cyndi’s mom and that ended with the old bag getting shoved in the cake along with Gene, who got caught in the crossfire. ***

Final Analysis:

Scott:

The WWF really loaded up this first installment of what would be a landmark show for all our wrestling childhoods. Two title matches, and at the time a rare Hulk Hogan title match on TV. All the big stars were on and we even had a babyface turn for George Steele. The backstage stuff was funny camp like the Mother’s Day party that ended with Moolah and Mean Gene in the cake. The shows would be more streamlined as time would progress and even Vince and Jesse’s chemistry would solidify over time also. This was a fun debut show that gave the mainstream audience a taste of what the new WWF was going to offer.

Final Grade:

JT:

This was a fine showcase for the WWF as their partnership with NBC officially gets underway. They showed off the majority of their top stars and pushed along a few major feuds as well. The Piper stuff was all very well done and really got his issues with Hogan, T and Orndorff in a good place in front of a national audience. There wasn’t much in the way of in ring action but there was enough there to make this an entertaining little watch. I also dug the party at the end, as that would kick off a long standing tradition of SNME being the home of campy parties and skits. It was certainly a breezy watch and a nice snapshot of what the WWF looked like in the weeks following the inaugural WrestleMania.

Final Grade:

Saturday Night’s Main Event II – 10/5/85

October 5, 1985 (Recorded October 3, 1985)

Meadowlands Arena

East Rutherford, NJ

Announcers: Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura

Attendance: 8,000

NBC Rating: 8.3

1) Hulk Hogan defeats Nikolai Volkoff in a Flag Match to retain WWF Heavyweight Title with a legdrop at 5:17

Fun Fact: After Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik lost the tag team titles back to the US Express, Volkoff began wrestling more singles matches. The 80s were a prime time for US/USSR feuds in wrestling and in the WWF that meant the big Russian Volkoff going against the face of the company, Hulk Hogan, for the title.

Scott:

We open the show with yet another WWF Title match, which again is a big deal because at the time we rarely saw WWF Title matches on TV. Nikolai was a big time heel challenger for the title in the 70s against Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund. After being a tag team champion earlier in the year Nikolai hops back in the ring as a solo star and goes after the big prize. Hogan is all American and a flag match is the perfect gimmick for these two guys. I found it odd that we didn’t have an SNME during the summer as Saturday Night Live ran reruns for the most part. Jesse is full heel now after somewhat playing it down the middle on the first episode. Volkoff starts off with the big heel segment early with choking and power strikes. We are treated to the alternate all white Hogan combo, as he really wouldn’t stick totally with red & yellow until 1986. Just like Nassau, the crowd is crazy as both guys really bring the goods here. Vince sometimes struggles with calling the moves, as at one point Volkoff is clearly going for a piledriver and Vince says it’s a backbreaker. Volkoff really shows off his power here and is not rusty for a singles push after being in a championship tag team for the past few months. Hogan eventually makes is big comeback and successfully retains his WWF Title. The crowd is on their feet as he goes after Freddie Blassie and then shines his boots with the Soviet flag. The match was a lot of fun as it was a five minute sprint with good power moves and psychology.

JT:

For the second straight SNME, we get the treat of a big Hulk Hogan World Title match. After taking the summer off, we are back it on NBC and this time around the Hulkster is defending the honor of America against the deadbeat Communist Nikolai Volkoff in a flag match. I love Nikolai’s big ass Russian winter coat. That thing is pimp. And amazingly enough, Volkoff is 2-2 when it comes to singing the complete anthem on SNME. Hogan is decked out in white here and enters to Stars & Stripes Forever while toting the stars and bars. Nikolai wasted no time at all, kicking Hogan in the back before he could even take the strap off. Volkoff pounded on him with right hands and then slammed him into the buckle before yanking Hogan’s shirt off and choking him with it. Hogan quickly made a comeback as the crowd was going bonkers, clotheslining the Russian down and dropping a quick elbow. A boot to the gut knocked Volkoff through the ropes and onto the timekeeper table. Hogan followed him out but Nikolai was able to run him into the post to take control of the bout. Back inside, Nikolai showed off his power with a backbreaker for a near fall. Nikolai followed by trying for a piledriver, but Hogan backdropped his way out of it. Hulkster tried to punch his way up but Nikolai caught him with some stuff kicks to the face and then scooped and slammed him again for two. And then Hogan hulked up. And that was that. Nikolai would miss a big charge in the corner and Hogan dropped the leg for the victory. America was defended successfully and yet again an invasion was thwarted. After the match, Hogan spit on the Russian flag and then shined his shoes with it. Insulting. Hogan would pose with the flag to celebrate and await his next great challenge. I liked this match. It was pretty spirited and both guys hustled and landed some good, heavy blows.

*** We check on the bride-to-be, Joyce, as she preps for her big wedding, which is coming later in the show. Gene Okerlund then checks in with Uncle Elmer and Hillbilly Jim and neither seem all to worried about Elmer’s match or nuptials. ***

2) Uncle Elmer defeats Jerry Valiant with a bodyslam at :06

Fun Fact I: John Hill, aka Jerry Valiant, was a Canadian wrestler from Hamilton, Ontario. He began his wrestling career in 1959 in Canada and moved to the US in 1960 where he wrestled under the name Guy Hill. During his career in the 60s and 70s he wrestled throughout the US, Canada and Australia under various names, including Guy Mitchell, The Destroyer and The Stomper. He came to the WWWF in 1979 as Jerry Valiant. At the time, Jimmy Valiant had contracted hepatitis and a new family member was needed to team with Johnny. The duo won the WWWF World Tag Team Championship and when Jimmy recovered the three wrestled in six man tag matches. Jerry Valiant left the territory in 1980 to continue his solo wrestling career elsewhere. He returned to the WWF in 1984 as a referee and lower card wrestler.

Fun Fact II: Uncle Elmer sets a WWF record for quickest match, surpassing King Kong Bundy’s win over Special Delivery Jones at WrestleMania.

Scott:

I will leave the majority of my comments to my PIC who loves hillbillies about as much as I love midgets. Poor Gentlemen Jerry, a former tag team champion and here he’s just fodder for the groom to be.

JT:

Valiant is apparently a big city clicker according to Vince. We will see how he fares against the gigantic, sloppy farmer Uncle Elmer. And of course we get to be graced by the presence of jackass Cousin Junior and his stupid square dancing. Hillbilly Jim gives Elmer a hug and that is all the motivation he needed as he scooped Valiant up, slammed him and then just laid on him for the win. I’ll take it. The less Junior and Elmer I have to watch, the better. Vince notes that the early reports indicate this was a new record and the Fink confirms it for us all. A true gift for us all.

*** Jesse Ventura heads to the ring for a special edition of the Body Shop, with guest Bobby Heenan. Heenan talks trash on Paul Orndorff, who fired the Brain earlier in the year. Heenan subsequently put a bounty on Mr. Wonderful and then doubled it to $50,000. He instructs Orndorff to just retire before someone collects. Gene then catches up with Orndorff, who says that anyone that wears a skirt isn’t tough enough to collect a bounty. Gene would later catch up with Roddy Piper, who claimed he wasn’t here just for money but instead to take out Orndorff. Gene asked him if he was worried that Heenan wouldn’t pay up and Piper said if that happened, he would rip Bobby’s throat out too. ***

3) Paul Orndorff wrestles Roddy Piper to a double countout at 4:01

Fun Fact: The Piper/Orndorff feud continues here at SNME II. Following WrestleMania, Orndorff fired Bobby Heenan as his manager on the April 26 episode of TNT. Heenan proceeded to place a $25,000 bounty on the head of Orndorff for anyone that could injure him. After no one was able to succeed, he upped the bounty to $50,000. Piper was one of the first to try to take Orndorff out at the higher target.

Scott:

This match is just as much a spotlight match for this show as the title match was earlier in the night. This feud stems all the way back to WrestleMania when Piper and Bob Orton left Mr. Wonderful high and dry after losing in the main event. The situation was exacerbated on the first SNME back in May. Now both men finally meet face to face in the ring and I’m not expecting any expert in-ring moves here, just a lot of punching, kicking and probably a disqualification. Well I was right on the money as these two men brawl into the hallway and eventually both get counted out so we don’t have a definitive winner. I think that hurts Orndorff’s babyface run as Piper really needed to put him over if they intended a big push for Orndorff after this. The whole thing about Bobby Heenan’s bounty really doesn’t play into any of this. The brawl is entertaining but honestly Piper needed to do the right thing and at least have Orndorff win in some capacity. Entertaining match, but unfulfilling.

JT:

Up next we have a very legitimate grudge match to help anchor this episode. Back in May, we saw these two go at it inside Piper’s Pit as they exploded after their humiliating loss at WrestleMania. Things have boiled over since then and now Piper is looking to both eliminate Orndorff and also cash in on Bobby Heenan’s bounty along the way. The match got off to a red hot start as the two traded right hands before Piper took over in the corner. Hot Rod landed a great kick and then slammed Orndorff’s skull to the mat until Mr. Wonderful came back and hammered away with abandon. This was a real street fight as the two rolled around the mat tossing fisticuffs and ripping at hair and eyes. Piper’s kicks were fantastic here. The match briefly spilled to the floor but quickly returned inside the ring, where Orndorff took Hot Rod up and over with a back suplex. The crowd is going nuts for this. So am I. The two would collide in the middle of the ring and instead of covering, Piper just went on the attack again. That backfired, as Orndorff buried a pair of knees in his gut to block a big splash. Orndorff would get a head of steam and fly into Piper, sending them both over the top and to the floor. Things got wild out there, as they brawled all around ringside and saw Piper whiff with a chair. They would brawl to the back and through the hallways and both get counted out, meaning no bounty would be cashed in on. Piper would eventually lock himself in a dressing room to escape. That was an awesome brawl and about as exciting a four minute match you will see during this era of WWF TV. The passion and fire was tremendous and between the existing bad blood and the bounty money on the line, the tension was really palpable. Toss in a great performance by Jesse and Vince and a hot crowd and this was my favorite SNME segment so far.

*** With Elmer, Jim and Junior in the ring with some other wrestlers and Gene Okerlund on the ivories, Joyce made her way to the makeshift alter, ready to seal the deal with the love of her life. Judge George Savino presided over the nuptials as Elmer was flanked by his hillbilly pals, Lou Albano, Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant (in tights). Jesse was great here, just trashing the whole thing and ripping everyone apart, especially Elmer as he struggled to hear the judge and fumbled his way through some of the vows. The judge went through the full vows but before they could finish, Roddy Piper showed up and ripped everyone from the aisle, saying the whole thing stinks. He would leave and finally Elmer and Joyce were wed. And as they sealed it with a kiss, Jesse hit his line of the night: It looks like two carp in the Mississippi River going after the same piece of corn. ***

4) Andre the Giant & Tony Atlas defeat King Kong Bundy & Big John Studd by disqualification at 4:26

Fun Fact I: This match was billed as a tag team contest between the four largest athletes in the WWF. It would actually be the start of the slow build for the main event at WrestleMania II between Hogan and Bundy. Following the match, Hogan would come to the aid of Andre and the stage would be set for the next SNME event.

Fun Fact II: Anthony White, better known to wrestling fans as Tony Atlas, began his wrestling career in the NWA Mid Atlantic area in 1974. He wrestled throughout the territories during the 70s and 80s as well as becoming popular in the world of bodybuilding. He won the Mr. USA title on three different occasions in the late 70s and early 80s. He also made history with Rocky Johnson on November 15, 1983 by coming the first African Americans to win the World Tag Team Title when they defeated the Wild Samoans.

Scott:

Now this is a match I can sink my teeth into. Three big hosses and the jacked up Tony Atlas go at it with Bobby Heenan at ringside. This goes all the way back to 1984 when Andre’s hair was chopped by the Heenan family. Then at WrestleMania, Andre slammed Studd and threw $15,000 into the MSG crowd after the match. The battles continue here, but like our Piper/Orndorff match it ends inconclusively as Heenan’s family dumps Atlas and begins really laying into Andre, who is really the highlight guy here as Atlas was just an afterthought. Both men really start beating Andre down until he is saved by the WWF Champion, as Hogan comes out to a huge megapop. He chases the big guys off and Hogan promises he will help Andre get rid of the Family members. Way to toss Tony Atlas to the curb. I loved that Bundy/Studd team, as nothing is more awesome than big hoss heel tag teams. Hogan is all over this show and his evening is still not over. Neither is the war between the Eighth Wonder of the World and the Heenan Family.

JT:

Bobby Heenan’s issues with Andre the Giant continue here. Back at WrestleMania, Andre defeated John Studd in the Bodyslam Challenge and had generally frustrated the Heenan Family over the past year. Studd is teaming with his regular partner King Kong Bundy and Andre has the powerful former tag team champion Tony Atlas in his corner. Vince takes us back six weeks ago to Toronto where Studd and Bundy double teamed Andre and left him laid out. Now, Andre has some backup. And he immediately goes for the jugular, choking the crap out of Bundy in the middle of the ring. He then back Bundy into the corner and smashed him with his huge frame before tossing in some chops. Atlas came in and ate a back elbow from Bundy but he dodged an elbow drop. Bundy tagged in Studd, but Atlas kept him rocking with some right and hands and headbutts before failing to slam the big man. Atlas whiffed on a bad looking dropkick, giving Studd the opening to stomp away. Studd would amble over and tussle with Andre, allowing Bundy to come in and splash Atlas. Andre would tag back in and kick Studd to the floor, but Bundy came in and started laying the wood. Outside, Studd rammed Atlas into the ring post and then slid back inside for some double teaming. With Atlas useless on the floor, Hulk Hogan showed up and helped clear the ring to another mega pop. Match was nothing but the angle was good and the heat was there as well. Looks like Andre may have a new partner in his war with the Heenan Family.

*** We cut to a jungle where Gene Oklerlund pulls up in a jeep, on the search for a cunning creature. And that creature is George Steele, who had been reported to have been sighted in the Detroit Zoological Park. Gene would indeed happen upon the Animal, who he claims the entire world had been looking for. He informs us that we haven’t seen George since his electrotherapy that caused him to eventually relapse and disappear. In a funny bit, Gene saw a tiger and asked what kind it was, leading George to reply Detroit. After some more hi-jinks, George ran away. ***

5) The Dream Team defeat Lanny Poffo & Tony Garea to retain WWF Tag Team Titles when Greg Valentine made Garea submit with the figure four at 3:30

Fun Fact I: Anthony Garelijich, aka Tony Garea, was born in 1946 in Auckland, New Zealand. He was trained by Wild Don Scott and made his debut in New Zealand before signing with the WWWF in 1972. He teamed with Haystacks Calhoun in May 1973 to win his first WWWF World Tag Team Championship. After winning the titles a second time with Dean Ho later that year, he started a short singles career in the spring of 1974. He would go back to tag wrestling in 1977 when he teamed up with new partner, Larry Zbyzsko. The team would strike gold again for Garea in 1978. In the early 80s Garea would team with Rick Martel to win a fourth tag team title. When Martel left the WWF in 1982, Garea became a jobber, helping newcomers to the business until he retired in 1986.

Fun Fact II: Lanny Poffo is part of the Poffo wrestling family, led by his father Angelo Poffo and his older brother, Randy, aka Macho Man Randy Savage. Lanny began his wrestling career in the 1970s in the NWA territory system. He joined his father’s promotion, International Championship Wrestling, and held their primary title. When the promotion folded in 1984, he followed his brother to the CWA and then to the WWF. Lanny built a babyface persona where he would come to the ring with short poems that he had written that would ridicule the heel he was facing along with frisbees that he would throw out the audience. He was primarily used as an enhancement talent.

Fun Fact III: The Dream Team was made up of Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake along with manager Johnny Valiant and was formed in May 1985. Prior to the team’s creation, Valentine was managed by Jimmy Hart and had won the Intercontinental Championship. Beefcake came into the WWF in 1984 and was managed by Valiant. The two managers put their talents together as a team in 1985. After Valentine lost the IC title in July, the duo concentrated their efforts on tag team wrestling and set their sites on the US Express. Over time, Valiant became the team’s sole manager in their run for the titles. On August 24, 1985, the Dream Team won the titles after Beefcake took a lit cigar from Valiant and burned Barry Wyndham’s eye with it.

Scott:

We have new tag team champions since we last joined you as the heel team of former IC Champion Greg Valentine and his protege Brutus Beefcake won the straps from the US Express. Another title match to really boost this show up sees legendary tag wrestler Tony Garea and the newcomer Lanny Poffo looks to pull off the upset here. The match is sadly too short as we needed to fit this crap on the back end of the show. There probably would have been much more athleticism and workrate on this entire show with high profile matches that were sadly cut off so we can fit all this hillbilly junk. The Dream Team are one of the cooler heel tag teams of all time and one of my brother’s favorites. The champions retain but the former champions (with Barry Windham rocking the eyepatch) watching from ringside waiting for their chance to regaining the titles.

JT:

We close the night out with a tag title match as the new champions are ready for their first national TV defense. The Dream Team came together over the summer and upset the US Express, with an assist from Johnny V and his cigar, to grab the titles. Their opponents are definitely capable but this would certainly be a major upset. Both Tony Garea and Lanny Poffo were above average workers positioned as little more than enhancement talent for the stars at this point. As Valentine doled out elbows and slams to Poffo, we saw the US Express seated ringside. To help sell the cigar attack, Barry Windham was rocking an eyepatch. Beefcake would tag in but he got caught off guard and Poffo picked up a near fall on a moonsault. Beefcake came back and overpowered Poffo, but the poet laureate was able to tag in Garea, who came in and started doling dropkicks to both champions. After a near fall off a dropkick, Garea ate a back