Off The Grid, Volume 5: Saturday Night's Main Event XXVIII Review

Original Airdate: Saturday, October 13th, 1990
Toledo, Sports Arena
Toledo, OH

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Off The Grid, Volume 5:

We kick things off in Frankenmuth, Michigan with everyone dressed in German attire for Oktoberfest. Roddy Piper is shirtless here to go over the matches we have here tonight. 

We get a Demolition promo and it can't be said enough how much Crush did not fit the vibe of Ax and Smash. Legion of Doom asks if Demolition is going to wimple over their wieners. Yeah. 

Demolition vs. Legion Of Doom & Ultimate Warrior

This was an absolute dream team for my elementary school aged self here. I have to say, the crowd reaction seems pretty tepid for Warrior here. Also of note, Warrior is wearing black trunks. They pan to Dustin Rhodes in the crowd. Smash starts it off by attacking Animal from behind. Warrior and Ax come in next and Warrior destroys Ax with a series of kicks. Warrior then ends up taking care of all of Demolition. Warrior goes for a splash, but Ax is able to roll out of the way. Demolition uses a triple team to neutralize Warrior. They go for Decapitation, but Hawk is able to break it up. Warrior makes the tag to Hawk and he hits a top rope clothesline. He tags in Warrior and he clotheslines Smash and then the leaping shoulder tackle into the splash for the victory. That was frantically paced for a match with 6 guys of their size and style, but it was also sloppy. All in all though, this was entertaining. 

Match Rating: ** (out of 5)

We are now back to Frankenmuth with Mean Gene. Akeem is everything. They flip it to Lord Alfred Hayes, who is arguing over English beer being better than German beer. 

Randy Savage vs. Dusty Rhodes

How do you have both Savage and Dusty and not have a promo? Rhodes goes right after Savage and is sporting the red polka dots tonight. Dusty hits a backslide into a 2 count, but then up comes Sherri on the apron and Savage takes advantage. Savage locks in the sleeper hold and we pan to both Ted DiBiase and Virgil coming through th ecrowd. They are handing out money and giving it to the crowd and asking them to leave. They try to buy Dustin's seat and he rips up the money. Ted and Virgil decide to sit next to him then. Dusty goes after DiBiase into the commercial break. When we come back. Savage is back in control in the ring. Dusty makes his comeback and then Dustin punches DiBiase. We have a brawl on the outside and Dusty hasn't seen it yet. DiBiase hits Dustin with a wooden chair and Dusty goes after him. Savage comes from behind with a double ax handle from the top rope. Savage rolls back in and wins via countout. After the match, DiBiase and Virgil continue to attack both Rhodes. This is probably the most vicious I have seen Teddy in the WWF. This was good stuff. 

Match Rating: **3/4

Hulk Hogan and Tugboat are here, brother. I'm not a Hogan fan, but man what a drop off on promo quality from Hogan and then to Tugboat. 

We go to the Bushwhackers and Mean Gene eating cheese. Lord Alfred is still talking beers and ignoring Gene.

Rhythm & Blues vs. Tugboat & Hulk Hogan

It can't be emphasized enough how stupid of a gimmick Tugboat was. It was just as stupid in 1990 as it is 30 years later. Honky gets an early advantage, but Hogan quickly hits a double clothesline and makes both look like jobbers. Tugboat comes in and R&B use double teams to regain control. Valentine was 2 days shy of turning 39 years old here on the day of taping. Hogan gets the hot tag. Hogan quickly hits the big boot, but as he goes for the leg drop, Tugboat grabs him and shows him Earthquake and Dino Bravo down the aisle. After a commercial, Honky comes in and hits Tugboat in the back with his guitar and we get a DQ finish. In come Earthquake and Dino Bravo and they destroy Hogan. As he goes for his signature splash, Tugboat hits him in the back with the guitar and saves him. This was every Hogan tag match you've seen, but at least the ending was fun. 

Match Rating: **

Mean Gene is with a sausage stuffing hall of famer (according to Gene) in the Genius. Hart Foundation and Jim Duggan are taking on Orient Express and Mr. Fuji in a sausage stuffing contest. Fuji cheats and they all argue. 

Intercontinental Championship Match

Haku vs. Texas Tornado

Compared to the other matches here tonight, this one feels like it's in slow motion with lots of semi-stalling to begin. Haku basically just does headlocks and chokeholds and then Tornado slaps on the Claw. Tornado hits the spinning discus punch for the victory. This wasn't very good. 

Match Rating: 1/2*

Back to Hogan and Tugboat and we get essentially the same promo as before. 

Koko B. Ware vs. Sgt Slaughter

Slaughter methodically (by 1990 standards) pounds on Koko and it doesn't feel like the crowd 100% digging this heel Slaughter. Koko comes back with some dropkicks. Slaughter catches Koko and hits a Sun Gun. Slaughter then jams his knuckles into the head of Koko for the victory? I'm not sure that did a great job of making Slaughter look like a main eventer. As Slaughter waves the Iraqi flag in celebration, out comes Nikolai Volkoff and he just stands there waving back and forth the American flag. Talk about a feud I would never want to see. 

Match Rating: 3/4*

More Oktoberfest shenanigans and Hayes is getting drunk. Slick and Neidhart start a dance off, which leads to a food fight. Duggan hits Gene in the back of the head in a cake. Being the fun person that I am, I can't help but wonder how much money was wasted on food here. 

Ultimate Warrior and a headband are here with Sean Mooney. Warrior accepts the challenge from Savage for a title match. I didn't realize this feud started prior to Survivor Series. They go to Savage and Sherri with Piper. Sherri cuts a good promo here and we really don't hear much from Savage. 

They go back to the food fight and Gene gets in on the action by attacking Alfred Hayes.

This show started off really strong, but really died down after the Hogan/Earthquake angle. I know that's how these were programmed, but it would have been nice to have a better ending. Regardless, this was an entertaining watch and the Dusty/DiBiase angle is what will stick with me the most. 

Overall Rating: 70%