WWF House Show 4/26/1986

Written by: Bob Colling

World Wrestling Federation House Show
Date: 4/26/1986
From: Detroit, MI

Opening Contest: Bret Hart vs. Sivi Afi: Early on, Hart complains of a hair pull at the start. Hart bails to the floor and complains some more to get some heat on himself. Hart returns to the ring and is met with a drop toe hold after a shoulder block and running the ropes. Hart gets control on the canvas with a hammerlock. Afi tries for a rollup but Hart kicks out and bails to the floor. Afi runs the ropes a few time and botches a rollup managing a two count and Hart rolls to the outside to stall some more. Hart returns to the ring and works over Afi with a series of blows over the head and upper back. Bret sends Afi back first into the corner and takes him down with a snap mare followed by a forearm drop off the middle rope and a leg drop for a two count. Afi comes off the ropes with a shoulder block but Hart cuts him off with a clothesline. Hart follows up with an elbow drop for a near fall. Hart tosses Afi to the floor and taunts the fans. Afi hits a sunset flip from the apron into the ring for a near fall. Hart regains control with a few strikes in the corner. Afi doesn’t sell getting rammed head first into the corner and rams his own head onto the top turnbuckle. Afi misses a splash in the corner and Hart goes back to taunting the fans. Hart scoop slams Afi but misses a middle rope elbow drop. Afi delivers a head butt to the lower midsection of Hart. Afi connects with a head butt to Hart’s chest for a two count. Afi slams Hart and hits a middle rope splash for a two count. Afi continues with a vertical suplex and an elbow drop. Afi hit a standing somersault splash, like a rolling thunder, for a two count. Afi atomic drops Hart and a few shoulder blocks. Hart stops Afi with a back breaker for the win. (**. It wasn’t too bad of an opener, really. Hart excelled at his heel role here and Afi is certainly a green worker, but they kept it quick and was relatively fun.)

Second Contest: Hercules vs. Tony Atlas: They lockup and neither man is able to get a clear advantage. Hercules shoulder blocks Atlas but Atlas comes back with a leaping head butt and Hercules stumbles into the corner. Hercules has a bear hug on Atlas, but Atlas casually wiggles out of it. They run the ropes until Atlas hip tosses Hercules, who bails to the floor. Hercules returns to the ring and controls Atlas in a test of strength. Atlas quickly gets to his feet but a boot to the midsection drops Atlas to his knees. Atlas controls Hercules with the advantage in the test of strength. Atlas atomic drops Hercules into the corner followed by a right hand. Hercules comes back with an atomic drop of his own. Hercules maintains the advantage with strikes and an elbow drop. Atlas gets up and comes off the middle rope to drop Hercules with a head butt. Atlas delivers several strikes and a jumping head butt. Atlas continues with a suplex. Atlas attempts a dropkick but Hercules holds onto the ropes. Hercules puts Atlas in the Torture Rack but Atlas holds onto the ropes causing a rope break. Atlas counters a backdrop attempt with a rollup and manages to get a three count. (*. I guess it wasn’t nearly as bad as I was expecting it to be. They didn’t do anything that I found to be enjoyable. Some of the ways Atlas sold the moves got a chuckle out of me, though. I don’t think that should be considered a good thing.)

Third Contest: Jim Neidhart vs. George Steele: Steele runs into the ring and Neidhart bails to the floor as the crowd erupts for Steele. Steele chases Neidhart on the floor but Neidhart manages to get Steele stuck in the ropes after delivering a clothesline. Neidhart keeps control with stomps while Steele is upside down. Neidhart bites the foot of Steele, too. Steele finally gets his legs free from the ropes. Steele hammers away on Neidhart with right hands and bites Neidhart in the corner. Neidhart returns to the ring and sends Steele chest first into the corner followed by stomps. Neidhart goes to the floor and grabs a steel chair. Neidhart tosses the referee down and Steele punches Neidhart to earn the win. (1/2*. I suppose having Neidhart control the majority of the match was the right decision, but still the action wasn’t very good.) After the match, Neidhart attacks Steele knocking him to the floor but Steele returns to the ring and Neidhart heads backstage.

Fourth Contest: Cpl. Kirchner vs. Iron Mike Sharpe: Kirchner controls Sharpe with a hammerlock for a few moments until Sharpe trips hime. Kirchner monkey flips and then arm drags Sharpe causing Mike to roll to the floor. Kirchner continues to knock Sharpe to the canvas and Sharpe again bails to the floor. They run the ropes until Sharpe knocks Kirchner to the canvas but is kicked away. Kirchner dropkicks Sharpe to the floor and Sharpe heads backstage but returns. Kirchner attempts a dropkick but Sharpe holds the ropes to cause Kirchner to crash to the canvas. Sharpe kept control for a brief time and avoids Kirchner attempting a splash in the corner. Kirchner flips over the ropes crashing to the floor. Sharpe misses a clothesline and Kirchner hit a cross body for a two count. Kirchner nearly wins with a sunset flip but Sharpe regains control with a few stomps. Sharpe drops Kirchner across the top rope throat first. Kirchner monkey flips Sharpe out of the corner and almost wins with an inside cradle. Kirchner drops Sharpe with a Samoan Drop and wins the match. (1/2*. A basic match but the fans were behind Kirchner throughout. Kirchner is a mixture of Sgt. Slaughter and Jim Duggan for character description. A lot of 80s wrestling is boring, to me.)

Fifth Contest: Adrian Adonis vs. Hillbilly Jim: Adonis stalls on the floor and the fans are chanting “faggot” towards him. Jim shoves Adonis across the ring after a lockup. Jim shoulder blocks Adonis and Adonis falls through the ropes to the floor. Adonis works over Jim with several strikes and an eye rake. Adonis works over Jim in the corner with several strikes. Adonis continues to work over Jim with a knee drop. Adonis sends Jim to the floor and taunts the fans. Adonis knocks Jim off the apron with an elbow strike. Adonis comes off the ropes to clothesline Jim and continues to play to the crowd. Adonis heads to the top rope but Jim gets his knees up to block a splash. Jim gets a bear hug on Adonis. Adonis fights his way out of the hold and hammers away on Jim some more. Adonis is choking Jim and tosses the referee down to the canvas a few times, but the referee doesn’t call for the bell. Adonis is now choking Jim with his scarf and that warrants the disqualification. Adonis headbutts the referee! Jim fights back with right hands and does a cartwheel but Adonis bails to the floor. Just a funny note, the referee didn’t really sell the head butt and was quickly back to his feet. (DUD. This felt like an angle for something that would be bigger. Adonis is an interesting act and got some good heat. The action is just really bland.)

Sixth Contest: Tito Santana vs. Bob Orton Jr.: Santana blocks a right hand and went for a punch but Orton backed away. Santana hip tosses Orton but doesn’t quickly followup with the advantage. Santana goes behind Orton but Orton controls with a hammerlock. Orton drops Santana with a cheap right hand against the ropes and beats on Santana with several strikes and a boot. Orton comes off the middle rope to nail Santana with an elbow shot. Orton drives Santana face first into the canvas. Orton dropkicks Santana for a near fall. Santana fights back with right hands but is sent into the corner and avoids Orton! Orton crotches himself over the top rope and Santana kicks him causing Orton to end up laying over the top rope. Orton is punched a few times but is able to send Santana through the middle rope to the outside. Orton drives Santana down with a back breaker. Santana tosses Orton over the railing into the crowd. Santana flips Orton into the ring and stomps on him some more. Santana tries for a figure four but Orton kicks away. Santana takes Orton over with a snap suplex for a two count but Orton’s leg was over the bottom rope. Orton punches Santana while laying on his back. Orton connects with an atomic drop. Orton punches Santana a few times. Orton comes off the ropes to knock Santana down to the canvas with another punch. Orton comes off the top but Santana blocks the strike with a punch. Santana almost wins with a rollup. Orton blocks a backdrop attempt with a kick to the chest. Orton goes for a cross body off the ropes but Santana rolls through and wins the match. (**. I enjoyed this since they kept a good pace and there was actually some wrestling attached to it and not just rest holds or brawling. They both seemed motivated to compete.)

Seventh Contest: Killer Bees vs. Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff: Brunzell has his left hand and arm wrapped up since he apparently has a broken hand. Sheik and Blair kick off the tag match. Sheik takes Blair down to the mat but can’t keep him down and they have a standoff. Blair gets a head scissors on Sheik after being dropped to the mat but they get up quickly again. Blair knocks Volkoff off the apron and Brunzell gets tagged in. Brunzell atomic drops Sheik into the corner followed by a snap mare. Volkoff holds Brunzell in the corner and Sheik misses a big boot knocking Volkoff off the apron. Blair tags in and controls Sheik with a headlock. Sheik is knocked down following a double elbow shot and Brunzell tags back in to control the left leg of Sheik. Blair returns and they double team Sheik some more. Volkoff is distracting the referee on a pin attempt. Brunzell puts a figure four on Sheik but doesn’t get a submission. Volkoff enters and cheap shots Brunzell with a boot to the face and Sheik tags Volkoff in legally. Brunzell has a sunset flip and has Volkoff pinned but Nikolai kicks out of the hold. Volkoff has a bear hug on Brunzell but isn’t able to get a submission.

Brunzell breaks free and tags in Blair. Blair cleans house on both opponents ramming them into each other. Blair atomic drops Volkoff but only gets a near fall. Sheik knee lifts Blair from the apron but Blair tries to slam Volkoff but can’t lift him all the way up. Volkoff and Sheik focus their attack on Blair as Sheik hits a clothesline. Sheik backdrops Blair and taunts the fans. Sheik takes Blair over with a gut wrench suplex and locks in the camel clutch. Brunzell enters and makes the save for Blair. Sheik has an abdominal stretch on Blair but can’t get a submission, again. Sheik misses an elbow drop and Blair tries to tag out but Sheik stops him. Sheik attempts a suplex but Blair counters with a suplex of his own. Brunzell gets the hot tag and cleans house on both men. Brunzell backdrops Sheik and he’s fired up. Brunzell clotheslines Sheik for a near fall. Brunzell dropkicks Sheik and nearly wins again. All four men are in the ring brawling until Volkoff gets sent to the floor. Brunzell gets a sleeper hold locked in on Sheik. Volkoff comes off the middle rope and axe handles Brunzell. The referee turns around and Sheik gets the three count. (*1/2. Some decent moments and the finish was effective. The duo of Sheik and Volkoff do a good job of getting the crowd to despise them.)

Eighth Contest: Jake Roberts vs. Scott McGhee: I’m sensing this is going to be a squash match to basically just get Roberts a victory and promote him for more important things. Roberts has some issues at the start with McGhee and rolls to the floor to regroup. McGhee holds his own even getting a near fall after a middle rope knee drop. This went about seven minutes but ends following a DDT by Roberts. The announcers call it a neck breaker. After the match, Roberts grabs his bag and puts a snake on McGhee. Roberts puts the snake around Scott’s neck. Scott is bleeding from the mouth.

Main Event: WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan vs. WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage: Savage gets booed, but the fans sure do love Elizabeth. Savage attacks Hogan before the match and hits Hogan with the WWF World Championship a couple of times. The referee grabs it from Savage, not calling for the bell. Savage comes off the top hitting Hogan with a double axe handle. Savage heads to the top rope again and delivers another double axe handle. Hogan starts to get a second wind as Savage is distracted by Elizabeth. Hogan decks Savage a few times and Hogan puts on Randy’s sunglasses while hammering away on the challenger. Hogan tosses Savage over the top rope to the floor. Hogan has Savage over his shoulder and rams Savage into the ring post. Hogan tosses Savage back into the ring and gives the referee the sunglasses. Hogan chokes Savage before dropping him to the canvas. Hogan blows a kiss to Elizabeth, who is standing on the apron while Savage laid on the mat. Savage is able to pull Hogan through the middle rope to the floor and quickly follows up to attack Hogan briefly on the outside. Savage sends Hogan chest first into the guard railing. Savage kicks Hulk from the apron a few times. Savage rolls Hogan into the ring and tries to ram Hogan into the turnbuckle but Hogan blocks it and rams Savage head first into the top turnbuckle. Savage is begging off and tried to crawl away. Hogan stops him with a flurry of right hands and a chop. Hogan clotheslines Savage in the corner followed by an atomic drop, which sends Savage over the top to the floor. Hogan follows to the outside where Savage puts Elizabeth in front of him.

Hogan returns to the ring to wait for Savage. Savage stalls on the outside while Hogan plays to the crowd to get Savage back in the ring, which eventually he does. Hogan drops to the floor and warns Elizabeth to not get in the ring. Savage takes advantage tossing Hogan to the outside and Savage hit a double axe handle off the top. Savage beats on Hogan while he’s on the apron and Savage hits another double axe handle to the floor. Savage sends Hogan chest first into the guard railing. Savage hits a third double axe handle off the top to the floor. Savage keeps control in the ring but can’t keep Hogan down long enough on a pin attempt. Randy drops Hogan with a clothesline for a near fall. Savage comes off the top hitting an elbow drop but Hogan powers out at two and begins to Hulk Up. Savage jabs Hogan a few times, which don’t impact Hogan. Hulk hammers away on Savage several times. Hogan big boots Savage and plays to the crowd. Hogan goes to the floor and moves Elizabeth out of the way. Hogan rolls Savage into the ring and is met with a kick to the chest. Savage goes back to the top rope but Hogan gets a boot up and pins Savage! (***. The finish was a surprise, really. I was figuring we’d get the leg drop and all that. Instead, it was simply a boot to the face to avoid a top rope move. The action was good and the fans were red hot for the action. This is by far the best thing on the show.) After the match, Savage attacks Hogan with the championship and taunts the fans with the championship in hand. Hogan brings Savage back into the ring and hammers away on Savage. Hogan misses a shot with the championship and Savage bails to the backstage area.

Final Thoughts:
The main event prevented this show from being a complete snooze fest. There were a few decent matches on the undercard, but the action was mostly subpar and not very entertaining. Hogan/Savage have great chemistry and it’s no surprise that two years later they had a great money feud. I can’t recommend this as a whole show, however. There’s just not enough quality wrestling to do so.

Thanks for reading.