World Wrestling Federation House Show
Date: 2/18/1984
From: Philadelphia, PA
MATCH #1: RENE GOULETT VS. B. BRIAN BLAIR
FINISH: The bell sounds as Blair put a rollup on Goulett as the match ends in a twenty minute time limit draw.
Bob’s Take: Blair is the ‘new guy’ looking to make a name for himself against Goulett according to commentary. Blair has his right hand taped up due to being in an automobile accident. Blair controls the early portion of the match with the majority of his control taking place on the mat with an arm bar. Goutlett tries to keep control after a cheap shot, but Blair doesn’t let that last and goes back to arm control on the mat. The crowd interest rises a bit when Goulett sends Blair to the floor. Goulett doesn’t follow to the floor, but they shift from mat wrestling to strikes. Goutlett bites Blair’s ear at one point to be a true heel. Goulett continues by biting Blair’s body. Blair fights out of the claw for an extended time by hitting a slam, which is the most impactful move of the whole match and it’s been going on for over fifteen minutes. The crowd is fired up as Blair builds his momentum. The last two minutes or so had actual moves taking place and not just mat wrestling rest holds. One thing I do know about 80s house shows is that time limit draws happen quite often and they stall for a good amount of time, which is what happened here. The crowd didn’t like the finish, and I don’t blame them.
Match Rating: *
MATCH #2: STEVE LOMBARDI VS. JOSE LUIS RIVERA
FINISH: Rivera wins following a middle rope crossbody.
Bob’s Take: I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a Lombardi match where he wasn’t the Brooklyn Brawler persona. There’s noticeably less crowd interest in this match compared to the opener. Was the crowd just excited for the show to start? Similar to the opener, they go with quite the slow start with a lot of rest holds. This was a fairly boring undercard match. I need a little more action to hold my interest.
Match Rating: 1/2*
MATCH #3: WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS TONY ATLAS & ROCKY JOHNSON VS. RODDY PIPER & DON MURACO
FINISH: Atlas pins Muraco with a sunset flip to retain the titles.
Bob’s Take: Safe say this is the biggest match on the card to this point and the crowd is electric for the showdown as they started off with all four men in the ring fighting. That’s the kind of start the show needed. Muraco took a somersault bump in the corner that popped the crowd early on. The pacing for this match is so much better than the previous two bouts. Piper riles the crowd up by getting involved and spat at Atlas. Johnson gets worked over by Muraco and Piper for a few moments and the crowd is fired up for Johnson to make a comeback. Johnson avoids a splash by Piper getting his knees up, and the crowd erupted for it. Atlas getting the hot tag was electric for the Philly crowd. This was a good tag match with a invested crowd. Much better than what has happened before the bout.
Match Rating: ***
Backstage, Kal Rudman interviews the new WWF Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana, who had just won the belt from Don Muraco one week ago. Santana says he has a different outlook now that he’s the champion against Sheik. Santana notes that Sheik cost him the WWF World Championship last month. Santana was ready for Sheik back in January and knows Sheik knew he was ready for him. Rudman reminds Santana about grabbing the chair and how that cost him the opportunity. Santana says the referee sometimes doesn’t get the correct context as to what happened. Santana knows he has to be very careful against Sheik and reminds us that Sheik has the shortest reign in wrestling history, 28 days. Santana promises hell for Sheik trying to win the title from him. Santana wants to keep the title in America. Santana says his title win was recorded, but the footage can’t be found and suggests Muraco or Albano is behind that. Santana says the title match was his most difficult battle. Santana heard the fans chanting for him to not give up. Santana says winning the title was the greatest feeling in the world.
MATCH #4: WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION TITO SANTANA VS. IRON SHEIK
FINISH: Both men are counted out after falling over the ropes to the floor. After the match, Santana hit a flying forearm, but the match is over with at that point. Santana retains the title. Sheik attacks Santana, but Santana decks Sheik to the floor.
Bob’s Take: I watched their match at the Spectrum back in January and I enjoyed it far more than I expected. It’s a role reversal this time around as Sheik is challenging Santana. Sheik has the advantage early on working over Santana’s back. Sheik has productive offense with a scoop slam and a gut wrench slam. Sheik locks in a Boston Crab at one point, but Santana refused to give in and broke free much to the delight of the fans. At one point, they both fall over the top to the floor and I figured that’s where a count out would happen. This is the usual progression of the first match of a likely series. A decent match, but their match last month for the WWF World Championship was better to me.
Match Rating: **1/2
Backstage, Mr. Fuji and Tiger Chung Lee cut a promo. Fuji says they are out there to torture their opponents and make them suffer. That is what is going to happen to Eddie Gilbert and Tony Garea tonight. Fuji promises they are in big trouble tonight. Fuji isn’t planning on anything to combat speed that Gilbert and Garea have. They have no plan and just do what they’re going to do.
MATCH #5: MR. FUJI & TIGER CHUNG LEE VS. EDDIE GILBERT & TONY GAREA
FINISH: Late in the match, Fuji throws powder into Gilbert’s face allowing Lee to pin Gilbert for the win.
Bob’s Take: I’ve been familiar with Gilbert as the cocky heel in Memphis, so seeing him in generic black trunks and being presented as a babyface is a new thing for me. Fuji tried to use a weapon early on, but the referee saw that and stopped him. Gilbert actually gets early offense on Fuji with scoop slams and a dropkick. Garea gets the tag after Gilbert got overwhelmed by Fuji and Lee. Fuji karate kicks Garea from the apron to give his team the advantage on Garea. Lee and Fuji focus their offense on a nerve hold to slow the match down quite a bit. Gilbert misses a spear in the corner and hit the post shoulder first. Gilbert avoids a splash by Fuji and Garea got the hot tag cleaning house on Lee. The closing minutes were entertaining, but this may have dragged on a little bit too long.
Match Rating: *1/2
Backstage, WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan is interviewed. Hogan has goosebumps because he’s in Philadelphia. Hogan says the air in the Spectrum is the ultimate high. Hogan has heard people say they can support him and Hogan says he’s a fighting champion who will not hide behind a manager or a stable. Hogan is going out there to remain the WWF World Champion. Hogan suggests he may attempt to take the mask off the Masked Superstar. Hogan is confident that the Masked Superstar will not take him down tonight.
MATCH #6: WWF WORLD CHAMPION HULK HOGAN VS. THE MASKED SUPERSTAR
FINISH: Hogan wins the match by disqualification when Superstar attempted to use a weapon.
Bob’s Take: Hogan is wildly over and it makes the viewing experience so much enjoyable seeing the crowd so riled up for the Hulkster. Hulkster fights out of a test of strength early on causing Superstar to regroup on the floor. Superstar returned to gain control on Hogan with strikes to the back. It’s short-lived as Hogan decked Superstar with a forearm to the floor. They brawled on the floor where Superstar was atomic dropped into the post. Superstar gets an extended amount of control on Hogan, but doesn’t do much in terms of impactful moves. Superstar got a two count after a running headbutt, but that was the closest he got to pinning Hogan. Superstar tried to use a weapon, but Hogan prevented it. The finish is a bit lackluster for them to protect Superstar, but I’m programmed to believe they’ll be running this back for a more meaningful victory for Hogan. After looking it up, Superstar doesn’t get another shot at Hogan. There’s something about Hogan that makes the basic matches enjoyable.
Match Rating: *1/2
MATCH #7: BUTCHER VACHON VS. SALVATORE BELLOMO
FINISH: Bellomo countered a reverse neckbreaker with an inside cradle to pickup the win in just over one minute of action.
Bob’s Take: Well, there wasn’t much to this one at all. There’s really nothing here to care about other than the quick victory for Bellomo.
Match Rating: NR
MAIN EVENT: ANDRE THE GIANT & JIMMY SNUKA VS. SGT. SLAUGHTER & DAVID SCHULTZ
FINISH: Slaughter and Schultz are counted out for brawling with each other despite being partners. After the match, Slaughter attacks Schultz on the aisle sending Schultz reeling to the backstage area. Andre offers a handshake to Slaughter as does Snuka. Slaughter accepts the handshakes much to the crowds delight.
Bob’s Take: Snuka gets worked over by Schultz and Slaughter, which isn’t a surprise considering Andre is likely going to get a massive pop upon entering the match. Slaughter and Schultz collide allowing Snuka to get some offense on Slaughter with a slam. Schultz actively avoids a tag by Slaughter. Schultz ends up decking Slaughter, but Slaughter attacks Schultz and the crowd erupts for that. This is 100% angle driven and Slaughter turning face officially. The crowd loved it and it’s not an awful way to end the show on a positive turn.
Match Rating: *
Final Thoughts:
Early 80s WWF is certainly a lot different than anything I usually watch, but it’s still a fun show with a hot crowd. There some good action on the show, and Slaughter’s face turn is something the fans are supportive of. I’ll give this show a mild thumbs up.
Thanks for reading.