WWF House Show 9/29/1988

Written by: Bob Colling

World Wrestling Federation House Show
Date: 9/29/1988
From: New York, NY

Opening Contest: Terry Taylor vs. Sam Houston: Taylor takes some time to stall at the start and fluffs his hair. Houston teases a closed fist in the corner and Taylor cheap shots him instead. Taylor cheap shots Houston again the corner since Sam doesn’t want to seemingly hit Taylor with a fist in the corner. Taylor does the same spot three times in a row making Houston look like an idiot. Houston tries to punch Taylor but the referee stops him and Taylor delivers another right hand. Houston scoop slams Taylor and finally gets a few punches knocking Taylor to the floor. Houston again nails Taylor with a right hand and taunts Taylor when he backs away in the corner. Taylor attempts a suplex on the apron to the floor but Houston counters with a suplex back into the ring for a near fall. The referee is slowly counting on the cover. Houston comes off the ropes to hit a cross body and arm drags Taylor. Taylor tries to slam Houston but Sam counters and keeps control of Taylor’s arm. Taylor rams Houston into the corner and delivers a few strikes to maintain advantage until Houston punched Terry and took him down to the canvas. Houston shoulder blocks Taylor but is dumped to the floor by Terry. Taylor grabs Houston to deliver a jaw breaker in the ring. Terry continues with an elbow drop several times for an apparent three count. Taylor takes Houston over with a suplex but Houston hits a backdrop. The bell sounds as Houston dropkicks Taylor to the floor. (*1/2. There seems to have been a confusion on the finish there. The referee seemingly called it as a shoot, but he screwed up the count on the cover, there’s no doubt about it. Anyway, the action started slow but they managed to get Houston over for simply delivering a punch since they dragged that out during the match. It was disappointing that the referee messed it up.)

Second Contest: The Conquistadors vs. The Rockers: Jannetty starts the match and is worked over in the corner. Jannetty is trapped in a torture rack and is traded off from one Conquistador to another. Michaels gets tagged in and cleans house with arm drags and a dropkick. Jannetty gets double teamed in the corner again. Michaels monkey flips Jannetty out of the corner to hit a clothesline. Rockers have control of the match as Michaels comes off the top with a double axe handle. Michaels is sent hard into the corner and flips upside down before being double teamed as the referee was busy with Jannetty. Michaels continues to get worked over with a backdrop. Michaels nearly wins with a sunset flip, which the Conquistador kind of sold in a hilarious manner. Michaels is double teamed in the corner as Jannetty tried to help his partner but failed miserably. Shawn tries to fight out of the corner but fails to break free. Michaels avoids a swanton bomb off the top rope. Jannetty gets the tag and cleans house backdropping one the guys into the ropes and a dropkick on both men. Michaels hits a splash off of Jannetty’s shoulders for the win. (**. They got plenty of time and for the most part the Rockers were on the receiving end of the offense. The finish was exciting the fans seemed to enjoy the action throughout.)

Third Contest: King Haku vs. Junkyard Dog: Haku works over Dog in the corner with head rams briefly. Dog coms back with a couple of scoop slams and drops to the canvas to head butt Haku to the floor. Dog is distracted by Bobby Heenan and that allows Haku to get a few shots in but Dog battles back with a head butt. Dog drops Haku with another head butt for a near fall. Dog nearly wins with an inside cradle. Dog goes for another rollup but Haku still kicks out. Dog wrenches on the arm of Haku and ducks under an elbow strike to keep a hammerlock on. Haku gets free and regroups with Heenan in the corner. Dog leg sweeps Haku and hits a falling head butt. Haku scoop slams Dog but misses an elbow drop. Dog controls the arm of Haku while also delivering head rams. Dog trips Haku down to the canvas and delivers another head butt. Heenan is digging into his pockets to get something out. Haku works over Dog to keep him on the canvas. Dog gets a second wind but a head butt stops him and a running knee lift knocks him down again. Dog still powers out on a pin attempt. Haku is controlling Dog with a nerve hold on the chest area, which looks like a nipple twist. Haku lets go and punches Dog down to the canvas and taunts the fans. Dog fights out of the nerve hold but is kicked down by Haku for a two count. Dog is laid out outside the ring and Haku continues to work over him with strikes. Haku drives Dog down with a back suplex for a near fall. Haku goes back to the nerve hold underneath Dog’s armpits. Dog breaks the hold by raking Haku’s eyes and jams Haku’s head between his legs. Dog connects with a backdrop and a scoop slam. Heenan enters the ring and stomps Haku on accident. Heenan tries to fight out of the corner but Dog isn’t bothered by it. Haku comes from behind and attacks Dog with several strikes. Heenan stomps on Dog and the referee calls for the bell. (1/2*. This felt like it was going on forever and they didn’t really do much of anything wrestling wise.)

Fourth Contest: Dino Bravo vs. B. Brian Blair: Blair uses his speed to get some momentum early on with a dropkick. Blair keeps control of Bravo on the canvas with a surfboard. Blair is focusing his offense on the left knee of Bravo for a few moments. Blair stops Bravo with a knee breaker and went for the figure four but Dino kicked him away. Blair is stopped by an atomic drop out of the corner. Bravo slams Blair and delivers an elbow drop for a two count. Blair absorbs a few strikes and nearly wins with a rollup. Bravo attempted a double under hook slam but Blair countered a backslide for a two count. Bravo drops Blair throat first across the top rope and Blair goes under the ring. Blair comes out from the other side and decks Bravo with several right hands and a knee lift. Blair rubs Bravo’s eyes across the ropes and rams him head first into the corner. Blair atomic drops Bravo a few times followed by a running clothesline for a two count. Bravo hits a side slam to get a three count on Blair. (*. Bravo is one of my least favorite wrestlers and this match didn’t change that. It was slow and not very entertaining.)

Fifth Contest: WWF World Champion Randy Savage vs. Andre The Giant: Heenan is on the floor bothering Elizabeth, which gets the attention of Savage. Pat Patterson is at ringside and is telling Heenan to knock it off. Savage goes to the floor and Heenan hides behind Patterson. Heenan is ejected from ringside by Patterson and the referee. If Heenan doesn’t leave, he will lose match to Savage and will be both fine and suspended. Andre goes on the attack choking Savage at the start. Andre works over Savage with strikes in the corner and head butts Savage to the floor. Andre clubs Savage on the apron with a few overhand smacks knocking Savage back into the ring. Savage avoids a big boot and clotheslines Andre causing Andre to get tied up in the ropes. Randy chokes Andre for a few moments and pummels Andre with right hands. Andre gets free from the ropes and chops Savage but Randy stomps on Andre to keep momentum briefly. Andre head butts Savage to the apron. Savage gets up and chops Andre several times. Savage heads to the top rope hitting a double axe handle to knock Andre down. Savage again goes to the top but misses an elbow drop as Andre rolls to the floor. They go to the floor where Savage rams Andre into the announcers table. Andre has grabbed the foot of Elizabeth. Randy comes over to save his wife as the referee has called for the bell. After the match, Savage carries Elizabeth from the ring as she may have broken her ankle. The referee ruled the match a double count-out. Andre poses with the WWF World Championship and demands the referee announce him as such by choking him. Andre lets go but its announced that Andre has gotten fined a hefty amount by the referee. (*1/4. Andre makes for a very limited match. Savage was entertaining and they did as much as they could. The angle after the match was enjoyable and advances the feud some more.)

Backstage, Dino Bravo makes it clear he wants a piece of Jim Duggan and prove that Duggan is an awful hero. There is one thing he likes about America, and that’s Brother Love.

Backstage, the Rockers are interviewed and they are told they will be getting a WWF World Tag Team Championship match since they won their match tonight. Jannetty knows they are the underdogs against Demolition but they are going to give their all to take the titles. Michaels says they don’t stay down no matter the beating. Michaels believes the days of Demolition as tag champs is numbered.

Backstage, Andre the Giant and Bobby Heenan are interviewed and Andre demands that Sean Mooney announce him as the new WWF World Champion. Heenan puts down Elizabeth and Savage saying that Andre has never been defeated. Andre is still bitter about Jack Tunney screwing him out of the WWF World Championship. Andre is convinced he’s the WWF World Champion.

Backstage, Brutus Beefcake is interviewed regarding about Ron Bass. Beefcake says that Bass cost him a lot more than anyone would know. Brutus says that Bass didn’t get the job done. Brutus is going clip Ron’s hair off.

Backstage, Honkytonk Man and Jimmy Hart interviewed. Jimmy Hart says they were screwed at SummerSlam 1988. Honky says he is the total package and he was ripped off last month at SummerSlam. Honky believes the WWF Intercontinental Championship belongs to him.

Sixth Contest: Scott Casey vs. Sandy Beach: Early on, Beach gets several minutes of control hitting a few scoop slams. It’s pretty clear that the fans aren’t really interested in the match. Casey is struggling to get any kind of momentum as Beach as controlled the entire contest. Casey face plants Beach and gets momentum in his favor. Casey comes out of the corner with a running bulldog for the win. (DUD. I was more entertained by Sandy Beach than I was Scott Casey.)

WWF World Champion Randy Savage returns to the ring and grabs the microphone. He has a message for Bobby Heenan and Andre the Giant. He just signed an open contract and he wants Andre to sign the contract. This is because Andre hurt Elizabeth and when she is hurt, then he is hurt, too. He promises to kick Andre’s ass.

Seventh Contest: Ron Bass vs. Brutus Beefcake: They start the match trading strikes until Beefcake gets the clear upper hand. Beefcake drops Bass after several right hands and the fans are loving this. Beefcake chokes Bass with his ring jacket and continues to pummel Bass in the corner with right hands. Brutus goes to the floor and hammers away on Bass some more ramming Bass face first onto a steel chair. Bass tosses the chair into the ring and Beefcake sits in the chair to a big pop. Bass locks up with Beefcake delivering a few shots against the ropes followed by a knee lift. Bass misses an elbow drop and Beefcake gets a two count following an elbow drop of his own. Beefcake knocks Bass to the floor and plays to the crowd. Brutus blocks a kick and drops Bass with another right hand. Beefcake grabs his scissors but Bass bails to the floor. Bass rams Beefcake head first into the corner but Beefcake turns the table and rams Bass into the top turnbuckle several times. Bass has gotten his Ms. Betsy whip and jabs Brutus with it. Bass works over Beefcake with a few elbow drops and is angry the referee didn’t count to three. Bass spikes Beefcake with a piledriver for a two count. Bass drops Brutus with a clothesline for a two count. Bass controls Beefcake with a nerve hold but doesn’t get a submission. Brutus prevents his arm from dropping three times and Bass is worried. Beefcake gets up and hammers away on Bass followed by a middle rope forearm shot. Brutus continues with a forearm shot and a power slam. Beefcake signals for the sleeper hold and gets the hold locked in. Bass gets out of it, but the camera missed it being on a fan. Bass clotheslines Beefcake but Brutus comes off the ropes with a cross body for the win. (*1/2. This got quite the crowd reaction and I’ve never seen a crowd pop so loud for the sleeper hold. It kind of dragged along, though.) After the match, Bass attacks Beefcake with his whip. Bass is choking Beefcake out with the whip as he drags Brutus around the ring. Bass pulls on the whip while pushing Beefcake’s head down to the canvas. Bass has the scissors and looks to stab Beefcake but the Rockers run into the ring and make the save. Bass is knocked to the floor and finally goes backstage.

Eighth Contest: Tito Santana vs. Bad News Brown: Santana dropkicks Brown to the floor at the start of the match and Brown heads up the aisle way out of frustration. Santana flips Brown back into the ring from the apron. Santana misses a splash in the corner and Brown gains control with a few strikes. Brown scoop slams Santana but misses a big splash as Santana got his knee sup. Tito pummels Brown with right hands on the mat managing a two count as Brown got his foot on the bottom rope. Santana drives Brown face first into the canvas for another two count. Santana hit a cross body coming off the ropes for a two count. Santana comes off the ropes with a forearm shot for a two count. Brown avoids a backdrop by clubbing Tito across the back. Brown sends Santana shoulder first into the ring post. Brown continues to work over Santana on the apron with several strikes. Brown chops Santana and delivers a leg drop for another near fall. Brown slams Santana before heading to the middle missing a forearm drop. Santana battles back with a few right hands and a scoop slam. Santana backdrops Brown and has the crowd behind him. Santana attempted a figure four but Brown flipped him away. Santana continues to work over the leg of Brown. Brown atomic drops Santana but Tito counters into the figure four! Brown quickly reaches the ropes to break the hold. Brown gets up and throat thrusts Santana and hits the Ghetto Blaster for the win. (**. The finish seemed rather abrupt, but Brown was in the midst of a significant push. I thought the action was pretty decent.)

Main Event: WWF Intercontinental Champion Ultimate Warrior vs. Honkytonk Man: Warrior chases after Honky on the floor and hammers away on the former champion. Warrior avoids a double axe handle and simply drops Honky to the canvas. Warrior works over Honky with right hands in the corner. Warrior misses a splash in the corner and crashes to the canvas. Honky has the advantage and taunts the fans. Warrior rams Honky head first into the corner and grabs Jimmy Hart on the apron. Honky runs over from behind and attacks Warrior. Jimmy hits Warrior with his megaphone. Honky beats on Warrior, but he’s not being impacted by it. Warrior drops Honky with a few right hands and a scoop slam. Warrior runs the ropes before hitting a shoulder block. Warrior goes to the floor and chases after Hart. Honky clubs Warrior over the back and Jimmy jumps onto Warrior. The referee ends up counting Warrior out on the floor. After the match, Warrior chops Honky followed by a clothesline. Jimmy Hart comes in to make the save but runs away. (1/2*. At least it was a quick match, I guess. They must be wanting to drag it out some more on the house shows.)

Final Thoughts:
Not a good show, but the crowd reacted to most of the action on the show. It kind of felt like a show that was leading into a bigger show the following month or something. I’d say avoid this show.

Thanks for reading.