#1984WrestlingWars 2 WWF bouts from the Philadelphia Spectrum 2/18/84, 3 bouts From Madison Square Garden 2/20 84
Philly Spectrum 2/18/84 Match #1 WWF World Title match Champion Hulk Hogan once again faces the challenge of The Masked Superstar. While I know I covered a highly edited verion of this match that took place on 2/10/84 in St. Louis on my blog for 4/14. There are several reasons I chose to review this version of the bout from Philly! One, This is the full match, though many of the "spots" and the DQ finish are the same. Secondly I/we get a clear chance to see how mega-white hot over Hogan was forh is 1st apperance in the Spectrum, since winning the title almost a month before in MSG! Philly fans have gained a reputation over the years for being tough and "smarter" than many cites. Rightly so, but the loved this man on this night and for many to come! Thirdly Long time beloved Philly play by play man Dick Graham is having the time of his life, He almost comes across as intoxicated or "on something! He repeats the same phrase"Don't you really just love it fans"?..... multiple times. Hogan can literaly gets the fans up again every time he turns his head! It is an amazining scene! This was and is a prime example of wrestling as "spectacle". While never the kind of wrestling I love. There is no denying it worked to a absurd level in this era! The match in spots, is beat for beat, the exact same as St Loius! As a fan this is one you gotta see to believe! https://youtu.be/b4xzGLJwhjc
Match #2 Andre The Giant/Jimmy Snuka vs SGT Slaughter/DR D David Schultz This is a great story told in under 10 minutes SGT Slaughter goes from booed, jeered heel to corageous tough hero endorsed "Babyface"! Sarge had already begun the turn on Tv in several altercations with The Iron Sheik,,,"Bubba.....Cameraman Zoom!.... Story here was this Sgt is getting his behind dusted by the Big one and The may of murdered his girlfriend one! He goes for the tag several times but Dr. D "shortarms" him, then turns his back to him, Finally just hauling off and decking him. Sarge has all of this he can take and brawl ensues with both men behing counted out, Slaughter runs Doctor d away chasing him halfway up the asile with a chair. The crowd loves these has a weary Slaughter gets back in the ring and very slowly accepts the handshake of the giant and Superfly! Very well executed angle here! https://youtu.be/-I4kpclaCuY
Madison Square Garden 2/20/84 Tito Santana defending his newly won IC title vs former champ Don Muraco! This was a tremendous 18 minutes of wrestling. With a unique finish I had never seen before this. It was well wrestled match! No surprise their with two great workers. Match started slow they spent almost 10 minutes with Santana in control of Muraco's arm with a top wristlock then a hammer lock and finally an arm bar. Don escapes by using a headbutt and knocking himself somewhat loopy as well! Muraco turns on the after burners then and drops Tito neck first over the top rope. Launches him outside where Santana lands with a Splat you can hear! Don goes around the outside and drops Santana again neck 1st over the steel gaurd railling Santana barley makes it back in before the ten count. A word on the odd behavior of the Ref for this bout, He was eithier a non-smart legit boxing ref, or a complete moron! Every time eithier man would go down. He would order the other man to stand in the corner and administer a ten count! He did this many times in this match! He might have thought this was a Europe style #WorldofSport show. Muraco just flat out paid no heed to him and went on......That unique finish I mentioned earlier was this. Tito after being cut off at least once. Bounces off the ropes and nails Muraco with his flying Forearm finisher. Don stumbles around and takes a bump over the top rope and in one fluid motion manager to get his head/next caught in the ropes! While Muraco is kicking and flailing trying to escape the ref counts to ten(since the former champ is in fact outside the ring this in fact makes sense and Tito retains the belt! Really inventive screwjob finish! https://dai.ly/xawduc
Match #2 Andre the Giant vs Masked Superstar This is every 7 minute Ander match you have ever seen! He does all his "spots" Steps on Superstar's fingers he steps on his chest. When Andre tries to get up Superstar runs full steam into Andre's backside! Star has a small heat spot where he hooks his "cobra clutch" on a prone Giant! Andre while still in the hold stars to take off Superstar's mask forcing him to release the hold! I liked that it was very clever! Andre finally hits 2 headbutts the huge boot and does the sit down squash to pick up the win! https://youtu.be/Q6UWtMRvck4
Match #4 WWF title Match Hulk Hogan faces Paul Orndorff! Orndorff is on the short list of guys who could get good wrestling matches out of Hogan! He may be my favorie Hogan opponant ever! Such fire and chemistry betwwen them! We get a pre-tape pre-match hogan interview with a daper young Vince something or another! Piper who was strange as it is to look back on now Orndoroff' manager, Goes back to the dressing room after the match begins. A heat getting machine wasted. Hogan outpowers to begin(of Course)! Paul hits a nice high knee to get heat. After several minutes of sustained beating and three attempts Orndoroff hit his finish the Piledriver! Instead of going for the win right away "Mr. Wonderful" stands there applauding himself(because you see kids in this era heels were not cool they were as dumb as a fried bag of shit!) Hogan "hulks up" but before he can beat "Mr. Wonderful" Paul gets an eye rake in and sets for another piledriver near the ropes. When Hogan counters with a backdrop, Paul flies out over the tope rope! He falls in a pile of chairs and woozy cannot get back in the ring before the countout! Hogan retains and their is cause for a rematch! a win/win! https://youtu.be/CU_YWJs1OjY
Match #2 Andre The Giant/Jimmy Snuka vs SGT Slaughter/DR D David Schultz This is a great story told in under 10 minutes SGT Slaughter goes from booed, jeered heel to corageous tough hero endorsed "Babyface"! Sarge had already begun the turn on Tv in several altercations with The Iron Sheik,,,"Bubba.....Cameraman Zoom!.... Story here was this Sgt is getting his behind dusted by the Big one and The may of murdered his girlfriend one! He goes for the tag several times but Dr. D "shortarms" him, then turns his back to him, Finally just hauling off and decking him. Sarge has all of this he can take and brawl ensues with both men behing counted out, Slaughter runs Doctor d away chasing him halfway up the asile with a chair. The crowd loves these has a weary Slaughter gets back in the ring and very slowly accepts the handshake of the giant and Superfly! Very well executed angle here! https://youtu.be/-I4kpclaCuY
Madison Square Garden 2/20/84 Tito Santana defending his newly won IC title vs former champ Don Muraco! This was a tremendous 18 minutes of wrestling. With a unique finish I had never seen before this. It was well wrestled match! No surprise their with two great workers. Match started slow they spent almost 10 minutes with Santana in control of Muraco's arm with a top wristlock then a hammer lock and finally an arm bar. Don escapes by using a headbutt and knocking himself somewhat loopy as well! Muraco turns on the after burners then and drops Tito neck first over the top rope. Launches him outside where Santana lands with a Splat you can hear! Don goes around the outside and drops Santana again neck 1st over the steel gaurd railling Santana barley makes it back in before the ten count. A word on the odd behavior of the Ref for this bout, He was eithier a non-smart legit boxing ref, or a complete moron! Every time eithier man would go down. He would order the other man to stand in the corner and administer a ten count! He did this many times in this match! He might have thought this was a Europe style #WorldofSport show. Muraco just flat out paid no heed to him and went on......That unique finish I mentioned earlier was this. Tito after being cut off at least once. Bounces off the ropes and nails Muraco with his flying Forearm finisher. Don stumbles around and takes a bump over the top rope and in one fluid motion manager to get his head/next caught in the ropes! While Muraco is kicking and flailing trying to escape the ref counts to ten(since the former champ is in fact outside the ring this in fact makes sense and Tito retains the belt! Really inventive screwjob finish! https://dai.ly/xawduc
Match #2 Andre the Giant vs Masked Superstar This is every 7 minute Ander match you have ever seen! He does all his "spots" Steps on Superstar's fingers he steps on his chest. When Andre tries to get up Superstar runs full steam into Andre's backside! Star has a small heat spot where he hooks his "cobra clutch" on a prone Giant! Andre while still in the hold stars to take off Superstar's mask forcing him to release the hold! I liked that it was very clever! Andre finally hits 2 headbutts the huge boot and does the sit down squash to pick up the win! https://youtu.be/Q6UWtMRvck4
Match #4 WWF title Match Hulk Hogan faces Paul Orndorff! Orndorff is on the short list of guys who could get good wrestling matches out of Hogan! He may be my favorie Hogan opponant ever! Such fire and chemistry betwwen them! We get a pre-tape pre-match hogan interview with a daper young Vince something or another! Piper who was strange as it is to look back on now Orndoroff' manager, Goes back to the dressing room after the match begins. A heat getting machine wasted. Hogan outpowers to begin(of Course)! Paul hits a nice high knee to get heat. After several minutes of sustained beating and three attempts Orndoroff hit his finish the Piledriver! Instead of going for the win right away "Mr. Wonderful" stands there applauding himself(because you see kids in this era heels were not cool they were as dumb as a fried bag of shit!) Hogan "hulks up" but before he can beat "Mr. Wonderful" Paul gets an eye rake in and sets for another piledriver near the ropes. When Hogan counters with a backdrop, Paul flies out over the tope rope! He falls in a pile of chairs and woozy cannot get back in the ring before the countout! Hogan retains and their is cause for a rematch! a win/win! https://youtu.be/CU_YWJs1OjY
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