World Wrestling Federation House Show
Date: 10/14/1984
From: East Rutherford, NJ
MATCH #1: RICK MCGRAW VS. BRUTUS BEEFCAKE
FINISH: Beefcake picks up the win following a standing forearm drop right after a shoulder breaker.
Bob’s Take: Monsoon makes a fruitcake joke and Lord Alfred Hayes loses his mind over it. It took me a moment to even recognize Beefcake without the holes on the sides of his trunks. Monsoon notes that they didn’t have ring gear like Beefcake’s back in his day. McGraw is a smaller guy, but he’s jacked. Beefcake continues to complain about McGraw cheating with hip tosses. The crowd doesn’t seem to be overly invested in this, nor are the wrestlers doing much of anything to provide excitement as Beefcake’s focus is a headlock on the mat to fill time. McGraw gets the crowd behind him following a series of jabs on Beefcake. The crowd was lifeless before that series of strikes. Late in the match, Beefcake sends McGraw shoulder first into the ring post. Beefcake gets a good reaction for a shoulder breaker after a suplex into the ring. I feel like Beefcake wasn’t quite seasoned to fill a 15+ minute bout at this point in his career. The final five minutes of the bout were entertaining, but the first ten or so were quite boring.
Match Rating: *
Backstage, Lord Alfred Hayes interviews Mr. Fuji. Fuji is preparing for his match against David Sammartino. Fuji remembers Bruno and knows that Bruno can tell David how Fuji would torture him. Fuji is going to make David beg for mercy tonight.
MATCH #2: MR. FUJI VS. DAVID SAMMARTINO
FINISH: Sammartino wins with an inside cradle.
Bob’s Take: Fuji puts a lengthy nerve hold on Sammartino prompting the crowd to chant boring, and I couldn’t agree more. It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that the focus on this match is mostly rest holds from both men. At one point, Fuji comically just smacks Sammartino on the groin and delivered a falling headbutt to the same area. The crowd popped well for the clean finish for Sammartino. This feels like a fairly big upset since David is rather new to the promotion. I like the booking decision, but the match is a dull one.
Match Rating: 1/2*
MATCH #3: THE BRISCO BROTHERS (JACK & JERRY) VS. RENE GOULET & STEVE LOMBARDI
NOTE: This is the Brisco Brothers debut on any TV for the WWF.
FINISH: Jerry forces a submission on Lombardi with a figure four leg lock.
Bob’s Take: I feel like I wouldn’t have guessed the Brisco Brothers were actively wrestling in the WWF by 1984. They feel like a 1970s team for some reason. Now, after looking it up that’s exactly what they were for the most part. It kind of feels like they don’t fit in very well with the WWF where there’s a bit more of a focus on larger than life characters and personas. They are clearly just two brothers who wrestle and don’t have much personality. I wouldn’t say they are bad by any means, but they don’t standout all that much. The crowd popped for the closing sequence, but I don’t see the Brisco Brothers lasting all that long in the WWF.
Match Rating: *
Backstage, Gorilla Monsoon interviews the Brisco Brothers following their victory. Jerry says it’s all about sticking to the basics and that the titles will come their way. Jerry is looking for the WWF Tag Team Champions Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch. Jerry says they will stick with the basic wrestling and go for the gold. Monsoon believes the Brisco Brothers will have the gold at some point.
Backstage, Gorilla Monsoon interviews Capt. Lou Albano. Albano will be an official for the tag title match later on in the night. Albano believes that Arnold Skaaland is not needed in the match because Albano’s reputation is top notch and he’s licensed in New Jersey. Albano promises he’s going to call the match fair. Albano reveals he’s going to start the match in the ring.
Backstage, Lord Alfred Hayes interviews Arnold Skaaland. Skaaland also says he’s going to call the match fairly and not favor either side. Skaaland believes Albano is going to favor the tag champs because Albano doesn’t get along with the Wild Samoans.
Backstage, Gorilla Monsoon interviews The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff. Monsoon doesn’t envy them because they are wrestling Andre The Giant and Sgt. Slaughter tonight. Volkoff says they have a plan tonight. Volkoff corrects Monsoon saying Slaughter and Andre are not athletes as they have never won a gold medal. Volkoff brags he was an Olympic champion as is Sheik. Sheik chimes in and says Slaughter has been crying to promoters. Sheik says they will find out who the best is tonight. Sheik says they will spit on Andre and Slaughter tonight and continues to ramble to end the segment.
MATCH #4: ROCKY JOHNSON VS. MOONDOG SPOT
FINISH: Johnson wins following a sunset flip.
Bob’s Take: Johnson is fully recovered from the piledriver he suffered from Jesse Ventura, and I still wish they would have done something with that. I feel ever time a tag team wrestler (Spot) works a singles match it’s never going to be a good encounter. The crowd responds well to Johnson’s flurry of offense that included a dropkick sending Spot to the floor. Spot’s control of the match isn’t all that exciting, but he does miss a middle rope knee drop at one point. The crowd liked Johnson winning, but there wasn’t anything to be thrilled about here.
Match Rating: *
MATCH #5: WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS ADRIAN ADONIS & DICK MURDOCH VS. THE WILD SAMOANS (AFA & SIKA)
NOTE: Arnold Skaaland and Capt. Lou Albano are officials for the match. Albano is inside the ring while Skaaland is on the floor.
FINISH: Adonis comes in and kicks Skaaland to prevent a cover attempt on Murdoch. Albano gets in the ring and is decked by Afa. Skaaland decks Albano and the crowd is going nuts for this. Skaaland decks Murdoch to the floor. Adonis is also knocked to the floor by Skaaland. This match ends in a double disqualification.
Bob’s Take: The crowd is throwing a bunch of trash at Albano upon his arrival for the match. Adonis starts the match bumping around like crazy for Afa and Sika to pop the crowd. Adonis takes some great bumps to get his opponents over during a match I’ve noticed. Murdoch tried his luck, but can’t handle headbutts and is knocked to the mat rather easily. Murdoch tries to deliver elbow strikes to the head, but it has zero impact. Adonis goes shoulder first into the post after being rammed into Murdoch. The champs are doing a great job selling for the Samoans. Albano clearly takes a minute to make a count prompting Skaaland to pull Albano out and take charge as the referee. The crowd explodes for that! Easily the biggest pop of the night thus far. Adonis bumps all over the ring for the Samoans some more and I think his bumping is causing a bigger reaction from the live crowd. Adonis doesn’t look like a complete fool because he’s able to get some offense in, but it’s not long lasting. Even with the non-finish, I thought this was an enjoyable match and the crowd ate up the Skaaland/Albano interactions.
Match Rating: ***
MATCH #6: BIG JOHN STUDD VS. SD JONES
FINISH: Studd clotheslines Jones followed by an elbow drop for the victory. After the match, Studd claims he’s a giant and considered this a warmup for Hogan. Bobby Heenan says nobody is slamming Studd and thinks the $15k offer is garnering interest.
Bob’s Take: Early on int the match, Jones tries for a slam and nearly pulls it off, but Studd avoids it. I feel like Studd’s gimmick of not being slammed kind of loses value when lower midcard guys are fairly close to accomplishing the feat. Studd actually gets busted open at one point, but it appears to be an old wound that opened up and not anything directly due to Jones considering all Jones pulled off was basic strikes. Studd is giving Jones far more offense than I would have thought he would. Most of Jones offense is strikes and headbutts, but Studd cut him off with a clothesline leading to the finish. At leas there was more energy to this extended squash match than the other ones on the same show.
Match Rating: *1/2
MAIN EVENT: NIKOLAI VOLKOFF & THE IRON SHEIK VS. ANDRE THE GIANT & SGT.
SLAUGHTER:
NOTE: This is being contested under Australian tag team rules. As it turns out, that means nothing.
FINISH: Slaughter pins Sheik following a middle rope clothesline. After the match, Slaughter and Volkoff trade strikes until Sheik tries to help, but Andre clears the heels from the ring.
Bob’s Take: It’s clear that the crowd is ready for this and Slaughter wasted no time going after Sheik and Volkoff to pop the crowd at the start. Sheik and Slaughter legally started trading strikes and the crowd loved Slaughter spitting on Sheik. Sheik continues to be worked over by Slaughter and gets scared by Andre in the corner. Volkoff gets the advantage for his team on Andre after countering a back splash by getting his knees up. Sheik assists Volkoff on beating down Andre to keep the advantage for a bit. Andre fights off Volkoff to tag in Slaughter, but there’s not a huge reaction for the hot tag. Sheik sends Slaughter hard into the corner at point leading to Slaughter taking a good bump on the turnbuckles. Slaughter ends up bleeding from the corner bump. Sheik focused his attack on the open wound. Andre gets a tag, but I feel like Slaughter wasn’t suppose to reach him, but he did and they had to go with it. Slaughter is quickly tagged back in to hit the clothesline finish. A basic tag match for the most part between these two teams. It wasn’t boring, but I’m not a big Sheik/Volkoff fan. Slaughter is a ton of fun and Andre is a lot of fun to watch so they made this entertaining.
Match Rating: **
Backstage, Lord Alfred Hayes interviews Sgt. Slaughter. Slaughter has blood still on his face. Slaughter says he hasn’t changed his style and will still do anything it takes to win his matches. Slaughter thought the war was over with Sheik until he was attacked. Slaughter says he wants Volkoff by himself and wants to prove to himself and everyone that Volkoff is a low-life maggot. Slaughter is going to put the tag team wrestling to the side for a bit. Slaughter is not going to bleed for Volkoff again and he’s promising Volkoff’s blood.
Final Thoughts:
The tag title match is a highlight, but that’s just about it. Kind of a lackluster show for the New Jersey crowd this time around. Recommend to avoid.
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