February '88 - 06/02 - 07/02 (Nikita vs Rotunda, Hogan/Bam Bam vs Andre/Dibiase, TOSP Final & Inoki vs Vader)

NWA World Wide Wrestling - 06/02/1988

NWA United States Heavyweight Title Match: Dusty Rhodes (c) vs. Bobby Eaton (w/Jim Cornette)

This was taped only two days following the Bunkhouse Stampede, so Dusty Rhodes is full of confidence. More so than usual as Tony Schivone points out. Dusty destroys Bobby early on, strutting about hitting all kinds of combinations. Cornette and Eaton come up with a scheme to overwhelm Dusty using the racket to hit the knee, leading to some knee work by Eaton. They go to the finish by introducing brass knuckles but Dusty gets his hands on them and uses them to win the match. Dusty beats up Cornette after and breaks his glasses. Cornette then declares war. Decent TV match. The angle was worth watching too. **3/4 

NWA Pro - 06/02/1988

NWA World Television Title Match: Nikita Koloff (c) vs. Mike Rotunda (w/Kevin Sullivan)

Surprisingly decent match. Better the Eaton match at Bunkhouse Stampede. There was more heat to the holds, Rotunda was a little more bolder with some of the moves he’d use as well. His gimmick of being a pure wrestler works for what you need to do with Nikita too. This had a lot more going for it, including a fun finish where the time limit was looming. Instead of it being a draw, Kevin Sullivan threw salt in Nikita’s eyes which cost him the TV title. Unexpected title change for sure. ***

WWF on NESN - 06/02/1988

Bam Bam Bigelow & Hulk Hogan (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) vs. Andre The Giant & Ted DiBiase (w/Virgil)

Bam Bam and Hogan has graduated from Dibiase and Virgil to Dibiase and Andre. This is still before the title was vacated so Dibiase is announced as the new WWF World champion. Hogan and Bam Bam Bigelow don’t waste. Hogan forces Andre over the top rope and to the floor which is insane since its Andre and then he knocks him down once more with a running clothesline. Meanwhile Dibiase pinball himself for Bigelow. Andre is able to catch Hogan off guard for a second and suddenly the tide changes. Hogan is SOOOOO over with the crowd. It’s crazy. Hogan makes the tag with Bigelow who throws some punches. Dibiase bumps like a boss for them as well. Bigelow is injured so he quickly makes the tag to Hogan who does the rest. Dibiase is pinned for a clean fall. Not a great match. But it was brisky and Dibase and Hogan are really good together. **3/4

WWF World Women's Title Match: Sensational Sherri (c) vs. Rockin' Robin

If anyone has seen my review of the 1989 Rumble, I destroyed Rockin’ Robin in that match. But this was a competent women’s match. Perhaps it's because Sherri is a pro. Perhaps the Rumble was an off night. This wasn’t peak Chigusa Nagayo but it wasn’t the slopfest you’d expect from the non-JBA matches of this era. There wasn’t much heat but I expect these two are used to that. They do their thing. Work a few spots like that very unique counter to the headscissors that Robin did. Just glad the crowd didn’t pick up on the potential implications of it (watch the match and see what I mean, it’ll be easy to spot). And ends with a fine splash off the top rope by Sherri. **1/2

The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith & The Dynamite Kid) vs. The Islanders (Haku & Tama)

Whose bright idea was it to have Frenchie Martin on commentary? This was a fine match. But I’m not sure that I’m all in on the Islanders like some folks are. This was pretty similar to their MSG match which is to be expected since they are doing the loop. There wasn’t much more value to have here. **1/2

WWF Superstars - 06/02/1988

Rick Rude vs Ricky Steamboat

More of an angle than a match. It’s solid enough for its time before there is mass interference. Hercules gets involved, then the Ultimate Warrior gets involved. Harley Race is in there too. Finally, Jim Duggan makes the save. HOOOOOO

NJPW New Year Golden Series 1988 - Day 26 - 07/02/1988

Top Of The Super Junior I Final Match: Hiroshi Hase vs. Shiro Koshinaka

Not a great dramatic final, all things considered, but it was a good match. It combines both guys' strengths which is Hase's wrestling and match structure and Koshinaka's high spots. However it swayed too much in Hase's favour and there wasn't nearly enough from Koshinaka in the closing stretch to win realistically. But story aside, this had some good wrestling, a common factor for all of the tournament. ***1/2

Big Van Vader vs. Antonio Inoki

This was a fine match. Rather slow unlike their Korakuen Hall match. Inoki worked the arm of Vader, consistent with the other matches but Vader kept coming, responding with arm work of his own. All of this led to an angle where a Gaspar brother, I assume Billy because of logistics, attacked Inoki. A pirate gimmick in New Japan? Odd. Double count out followed by a brawl with young lions flying everywhere. **1/2

IWGP Tag Team Title Match: Kengo Kimura & Tatsumi Fujinami (c) vs. Riki Choshu & Super Strong Machine

It’s good to have Kimura and Fujinami in a developed tag match, but this wasn’t their match surprisingly so. Super Strong Machine was the star of the match. Primarily because Choshu seems to have an injured leg and took up a secondary spot to rest. And naturally SSM took the ball and ran with it, further proving what an underrated worker he is. He saves Choshu early one when Fujianmi and Kimura pounced on him, he was able to best the champs by himself for the most part. And looked every bit as great as he was presented. Choshu continued to be the target with his leg, which Fujinami and Kimura targeted. Choshu is the clear biggest star of the promotion that even in a small role, he can still get the fans to chant his name. A bigger reason why the Inoki match result was a poor one. yThe match was very good but it lacked a great finish. Fujinami just applied the dragon sleeper and submitted SSM. Abrupt ending hurts this a little I have to admit. ***3/4