WWF Saturday Night's Main Event #9 - 03/01/1987
WWF World Heavyweight Title Steel Cage Match: Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Paul Orndorff (w/Bobby Heenan)
This is one of the last big matches between these two in their big feud, I believe. I'm not sure whether they decided to do the Andre feud yet but this is a good point that you could consider the end but there is enough juice for them to continue if they need to backup. The match itself is very fun and entertaining to watch. Orndorff dominates the opening minutes with a quick assault and they kick off from there. I've seen ties in Cage matches done before but a restart? That's new. Plus Orndorff having Hogan's music makes the theme playing even more confusing. Once the match is brought back in the ring, Hogan controls the match, milks the crowd drama and beats up Heenan and wins the match. Solid all around. ***1/4
WWF Superstars Of Wrestling #18 - 10/01/1987
WWF World Tag Team Title Match: The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith & The Dynamite Kid) (c) vs. Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik (w/Slick)
This was a standard enough match. Its main purpose was to further put over the heel referee gimmick and continue building the feud between him and the Bulldogs. The action was so secondary. **
WWF Wrestling Challenge #19 - 11/01/1987
Bob Orton & The Magnificent Muraco (w/Mr. Fuji) vs. The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell)
Danny Davis is the referee or the match which means trouble is ahead for the Killer Bees. The match is just an extended version of the Bulldogs v Volkoff & Sheik from the day prior, except using the masks as a reason for the DQ and not a dog. **
WWF Superstars Of Wrestling #19 - 17/01/1987
King Harley Race vs. Billy Jack Haynes
This was a super solid match. Race doesn't really offer much by this point but Haynes had some shockingly strong selling after his back hit the steps on the outside. He can mount some offence but can never really follow up, which Jesse Ventura points out. Race messes around and gets caught with a Full Nelson and Race got himself DQ to save himself from a loss. **1/4
Hercules (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. Jim Parks
Simple squash match with Hercules a Full Nelson and Heenan, who was apart of that Haynes v Race match earlier in the show and challenged him which Haynes accepted. Hercules attacked him though, leading to a match at a later date.
WWF Wrestling Challenge #20 - 18/01/1987
Butch Reed (w/Slick) vs. Mario Mancini
A squash match that didn’t last 1 minute. The main story is that Andre The Giant is back and will show up later in the show or the trophy presentation….. SQUASH.
Dino Bravo & The Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake & Greg Valentine) (w/Johnny V) vs. Hillbilly Jim, Pedro Morales & Tito Santana
More Danny Davis shadiness. Only this time, the face side aren’t having any of it and walk out in protest. That’s amazing, actually. ANGLE.
WWF on MSG Network - 19/01/1987
The Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake & Greg Valentine) vs. The Can-Am Connection (Rick Martel & Tom Zenk)
Zenk and Beefcake suck, but when their partners are Valentine and Martel, that doesn’t really matter. They work a smart match mostly, using the heat of the MSG crowd and the safe and true formula of cutting off the faces and building to the comeback. The Dream Team initially work oer Martel, climaxing with a great exchange between him and Valentine. Then Zenk gets the tag but the momentum stays with the Dream Team who work his ribs and use basic holds to keep Zenk away from Martel. There are plenty of tags that the ref doesn’t see and waves off much to the anger of the crowd. This pays-off when Martel comes in and pins Valentine, using his similar looks to Zenk to his advantage. Good match. ***1/2
WWF World Heavyweight Title No Disqualification Match: Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Kamala (w/Kim Chee & The Wizard)
We have a molten crowd in MSG who goes nuts for Hogan’s introduction. Kamala’s entrance is cool as well with the eerie music and his general aesthetic with Kim Chee and The Wizard. The match is all action with Kamala kicking it off by attacking Hogan with the title before Hogan turns the tie and nails Kamala with it. All legal, of course. Kim Chee and The Wizard tried to interfere, to some success, but Hogan was on a roll and snuffed their attempts out and continued to pound on Kamala mostly. Kamala has his moments on top with his chops and biting but Hogan ultimately wins and retains the title. Cool title match. ***1/2
WWF Superstars #20 - 24/01/1987
Paul Orndorff (w/Bobby Heenan) vs. Paul Roma
Orndorff coming out to Real American is a great heel spot. It’s forgotten now as they are transitioning into the Hogan/Andre feud but this stuff was great and is worth mentioning. Someone should steal that gimmick in 2021. The match is a showcase for Orndorff who wins easily. SQUASH
Bob Orton & The Magnificent Muraco (w/Mr. Fuji) vs. The Can-Am Connection (Rick Martel & Tom Zenk)
This was a good solid tag team match with the Can-Am showing some smart tag team wrestling and ire (Martel, anyway). The match falls apart as Danny Davis is ref and the match gets called off for seemingly nothing. **1/4
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