Original Airdate: Friday, November 23rd, 1990
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Follow me on Twitter: @WorkTheNetwork2
Off The Grid, Volume 63:
I had planned on watching The Wrestling Classic this month and then I realized how much I hated that show, so I pivoted to this one. I have never seen this show despite being a fan at this time. We start off with Ted DiBiase with Mean Gene. They show some of his early shenanigans, highlighted by the twin referees. We get lots of laughing from Ted and that everyone has a price. He's a little more fired up than usual but says all his usual stuff. We go to Sean Mooney and Ultimate Warrior. Warrior says the power of his warriors can't be bought. He asks DiBiase what price is he willing to pay to be champion.
WWF Championship Match
Ted DiBiase vs. Ultimate Warrior
Vince McMahon and Roddy Piper are your announcers here tonight. This show was taped on October 30th for those curious. It's also kind of strange that this aired the day after Survivor Series. We get things underway with Warrior shoving DiBiase around the ring. Warrior clotheslines DiBiase out of the ring and Virgil is there to check in on him. Warrior slams their heads together and then slams both of their heads into the ring apron. Warrior runs into a knee in the corner and DiBiase is able to hit a clothesline. He follows up with a second rope double ax handle for a 2 count. DiBiase hits a piledriver and gets another 2 count. He goes for a second one but Warrior hits a back body drop to counter out of it. Warrior runs the ropes but Virgil grabs his foot and Dibiase knocks him out of the ring. We go to commercial break as DiBiase goes outside. When we come back, DiBiase is going to work in the middle of the ring. We quickly get a Warrior comeback that is stopped short by a DiBiase clothesline. Warrior is able to pull off a backslide for a 2 count before DiBiase hits a suplex. He goes for another one but Warrior blocks it and hits a sunset flip for a 2 count. Interesting that they are going with Warrior as the plucky underdog here. DiBiase goes for another suplex and this time Warrior counters with one of his own. They collide in the middle of the ring and DiBiase is the first man back up. DiBiase goes off the second rope but Warrior hits him in the midsection. Warrior starts shaking the ropes and DiBiase sells it well. Warrior hits clotheslines and the flying shoulder tackle. He goes for the cover and in runs Virgil for the disqualification. Warrior nails him with a clothesline and the crowd is very much into this. He goes for the press slam but in runs Randy Savage and hits him with a scepter in the midsection. He hits a top rope elbow drop and starts throwing referees around the ring. This is all just absolutely nuts and I love it. Savage has the title and holds it up as Sherri gets in some cheap shots. After the dust settles, Warrior wills his way back up and holds up the title belt to his music. I really liked this a lot more than I thought I would.
Match Rating: ***1/4
We go to Mean Gene, Savage and Sherri. Savage is doing a lot of his whisper talk, so much so that I have to crank up the volume to understand him. He talks about being champion and then we see Nikolai Volkoff in the ring waiving the US flag. We then go back to Mean Gene with Sgt. Slaughter and General Adnan. We get a commercial break and then see Slaughter walk down the aisle for about 15 seconds before another commercial break.
Nikolai Volkoff vs. Sgt Slaughter
Slaughter attacks Volkoff before the bell and puts on the Camel Clutch. They continue the attack until Jim Duggan is out with the 2x4. Slaughter retreats and we don't have a match. I don't think anyone is too upset about that. Duggan waives the flag around.
Big Boss Man is with Mean Gene and we're in the middle of the don't make fun of my mama storyline.
Mr. Perfect vs. Big Boss Man
Perfect is without Heenan here. Perfect bumps around for Boss Man, who is at his peak as an in ring performer here. Perfect does the spot where he slides into the ring post below the belt. Boss Man comes back with a backbreaker before climbing the ropes. He misses with an ugly looking splash and Perfect is in control. It doesn't last too long and Perfect is back to bouncing around the ring. Bobby Heenan comes running out and Perfect hits a Perfect Plex. Boss Man somehow kicks at 2 and surprisingly there isn't much of a pop from that. Heenan holds down the top rope but Boss Man reverses and Perfect goes flying. Boss Man then goes chasing after Heenan and Heenan runs for his life. Boss Man goes back to the ring, but it's too late and Perfect wins by countout. Perfect then runs out of the ring with Boss Man furious. This was pretty good but Heenan running away was the highlight.
Match Rating: **
Heenan is with Mean Gene and he's begging and pleading for Mean Gene to help him.
We get the Playboy Buddy Rose weight loss vignette. They show him eating whatever he wants and that you pour a bunch of powder on yourself and use a fan to blow it all off. This was something.
Rick Martel vs. Tito Santana
I'm always down to see these two wrestle. Martel attacks Tito before the bell and we are underway. They talk about the Jake Roberts incident with Martel and Tito is getting the better of Martel so far. Martel goes on offense before climbing the rope and Santana meeting him there. Tito fights back and is all fired up. He hits a dropkick and a backbreaker. A clothesline gets a 2 count. Martel goes for an atomic drop but Santana counters that into a Figure Four which Martel counters into a small package for a 2 count. Martel slaps on the Boston Crab and Santana has to quit. That was a really good final segment there. How can you not love these two?
Match Rating: ***
Mean Gene is with Jake Roberts, who is wearing sunglasses. They show the Brother Love show where he was sprayed. Jake's sunglasses were never cool, not even in 1990. He says that Martel gambled and rolled the dice and says that he came up snake eyes while removing his glasses and revealing the affected eye. I was very much into this storyline as a kid.
We go back to Roddy and Vince to recap the show. We then go to Ultimate Warrior backstage and he gives his whisper interview before screaming about his rage.
Yeah, so this show was really good. The Warrior era is often remembered as being a failture, but tonight, this was all really good. Everything had a purpose and it all had great pacing. This is a big thumbs up from me.
Overall Rating: 80%
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