Welcome to another classic WWF pay-per-view review. Last time I took a look at the very first WrestleMania, and this week, I take a look at the Wrestling Classic, featuring a 16-man tournament. There are fifteen matches on this card...God help me. So without further ado, let's get into this.
We kick off with Vince McMahon welcoming us to the Wrestling Classic, live from the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois. He goes over to a big bracket board with Lord Alfred Hayes and his lady friend to run down the matches. We then go to Mean Gene Okerlund with WWF President Jack Tunney. If you've ever wondered what "deer in the headlights" looks like, just look at Tunney during this interview.
We kick off with Vince McMahon welcoming us to the Wrestling Classic, live from the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois. He goes over to a big bracket board with Lord Alfred Hayes and his lady friend to run down the matches. We then go to Mean Gene Okerlund with WWF President Jack Tunney. If you've ever wondered what "deer in the headlights" looks like, just look at Tunney during this interview.
Tunney says he's excited for the show tonight before Mean Gene suggests running down the rules of the tournament. Tunney says the only rule is "you must win to move forward." Mean Gene adds that if there is a draw, both men are eliminated. Back to Vince, who throws it down to our commentators for tonight Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura.
First Round Match-Ups
The first round features eight matches with ten-minute time limits each
Adrian Adonis vs Corporal Kirchner-And we're starting off bland. Adrian Adonis is the newest client of Jimmy Hart after he was traded by Bobby Heenan to Hart along with the Missing Link for King Kong Bundy. Bundy for Adonis. I haven't heard of a trade that bad since the Brooklyn Nets traded away the future of their team for three 36-year-olds. He's not Adorable Adrian Adonis yet, so right now he's just Adrian Adonis: Guy in Leather Jacket.
His opponent, Corporal Kirchner, is a generic army vet who would later go on to dress up as Leatherface to wrestle. That is not a joke. The two have a fairly standard wrestling match, ending with Adonis countering a suplex attempt with a DDT for the win. This was pretty much nothing.
Rating: 1.25 Star
Dynamite Kid vs Nikolai Volkoff-In the time it took you to read this, you could've watched this match already. As soon as Volkoff finishes singing the Russian National Anthem, the Dynamite Kid hops up to the top rope and floors Volkoff with a missile dropkick for the win. 6 seconds. Nothing to really say about this.
Rating: None
Ivan Putski vs Randy Savage-Yep, it's the pay-per-view debut of the Macho Man Randy Savage! He faces former WWF Tag Team Champion Ivan Putski or "Puduski" as Ventura calls him. Putski is able to overpower Savage through the match, with Savage unable to mount any offense until Savage is able to steal the victory, taking down Putski and pinning him with his feet on the ropes. I thought this was fairly enjoyable, but it's nothing really worth watching.
Rating: 2 Stars
Up at the bracket board, Nikolai Volkoff complains that he was robbed before saying he who laughs loud laughs the best and he's not done laughing yet. What?
Ricky Steamboat vs Davey Boy Smith-
Oh sorry, "Davy Boy Smith." So this is an interesting match-up, as it pits two babyfaces against eachother. That might not seem too big considering today where babyfaces face off all the time, but that's rare for 1986. The two shake hands before kicking off with some great back and forth action. I gotta say, this match was on it's way to being a really good match, the two worked really well together. Unfortunately, it doesn't last long. Smith goes for a dropkick, but Steamboat dodges it, causing Smith to crotch himself on the top rope. The referee rules that Smith can't continue and awards the victory to Steamboat. It's a shame it had to end, I was really enjoying this match. If they had gone to the like three times as long as they did, I would not have been disappointed.
Rating: 3 Stars
Before the next match, Junkyard Dog cuts a promo congratulating the Chicago...and that's it. Congratulations Chicago...on whatever you did in 1986.
The Iron Sheik vs The Junkyard Dog-This was pretty much the same as the opener, only this was more of a punch-kick affair. There's really not much to talk about. JYD picked up the win after a headbutt. Not worth watching at all.
Rating: 1 Star
Before the next match, Terry Funk cuts a promo saying he wants a shot at the WWF Championship and he'll take out Paul Orndorff to collect the $50,000 bounty put on him by Bobby Heenan. He then spits tobacco all over the screen.
Gross.
Moondog Spot vs Terry Funk-Well, it's time for another quick finish! When Funk gets to the ring, Funk says he doesn't want to wrestle Spot and says they should take a draw. BUT IT'S A RUSE! Funk attacks Spot as he walks up the apron and tries to sprint back to the ring. Spot catches up to him and the two brawl at ringside before Funk lifts Spot back into the ring just the referee counts to 10, giving the win to Spot in only 17 seconds.
Rating: None
Tito Santana vs The Magnificent Muraco-We get another solid wrestling match, but this one had an awful finish. Muraco body slams Santana near the ropes and makes the cover. The bell rings and Muraco celebrates as we see the referee count three. However, we then see the referee wave off his decision due to Santana having his foot on the bottom rope. Santana sees this pins Muraco with a small package for the win. This was really good, the two worked well together, but the finish was confusing and just bad.
Rating: 2.75 Stars
Cowboy Bob Orton vs Paul Orndorff-Unfortunately, the commentators don't make note of the history between these two, as Orton end up costing Orndorff the match at WrestleMania. Orndorff spends the majority of the match working on Orton's cast-covered arm, but Orton is able to take control early on. This is another solid wrestling match, but unfortunately, it ends in a DQ after Orton hits Orndorff in the back of the head with his cast. Fine match, but the DQ takes away a bit.
Rating: 2.5 Stars
That concludes the first round of the tournament. We go up to the bracket board, where Terry Funk complains about his quick loss before constantly threatening to slap Lord Alfred Hayes.
Quarterfinals
Now in the quarterfinals, each match has a 15-minute time limit.
The Dynamite Kid vs Adrian Adonis-I got to say, I wasn't really looking forward to this at first. Adonis' first match wasn't impressive whatsoever and while I knew Dynamite Kid was really good, I didn't know if he was good enough to get Adonis to a good match. But I was wrong. This was really good. Whether it was a just a bad showing in the opener or Dynamite Kid really is just that good, but they gelled great. The finish came when Jimmy Hart tried to distract Dynamite Kid, allowing Adonis to roll him up. However, when Dynamite Kid kicked out, he launched Adonis into Hart, causing Adonis to hit Hart's megaphone. Dynamite Kid made the cover and got the win. Wasn't expecting it, but this was pretty good.
Rating: 3.25 Stars
And speaking of pretty good...
Ricky Steamboat vs Randy Savage-Yep, before they had their classic match at WrestleMania III, Steamboat & Savage squared off in the quarterfinals of the Wrestling Classic. Here, their match is about 10 minutes shorter than their match at WrestleMania, but it's still great. Lots of fast paced, back and forth offense, great counters & transitions, beautiful executions of moves, it's a really good match. The finish comes when Steamboat tries to back suplex Savage into the ring from the apron. However, Savage was able to clock with brass knuckles before making the cover and getting the win. This was a really good match, easily of the best matches of the night.
Rating: 3.75 stars
So how do you follow up that match?
Moondog Spot vs The Junkyard Dog-45 seconds of something that's barely wrestling, that's how! This is another match I've talked about in the Worst in the World, so I'll keep it short. Spot rushes JYD as soon as the match starts, only to miss a second rope splash and get headbutted to death. There was no referee for some reason, so JYD counts his own pin and that counts for some reason. What?
Rating: -1 Star
Paul Orndorff vs Tito Santana-This wasn't really anything. Orndorff spent the entire match working over the leg of Santana, only for the match to end in a double countout after the two won't stop brawling on the outside. Really wasn't anything.
Rating: 1 Star
We go back to the big board, where Lord Alfred Hayes is kissing his lady friend. He then points out that the Dynamite Kid has had a rather easy path to the semi-finals as opposed to Randy Savage, who had two tough matches. Also, due to the double countout, the Junkyard Dog gets a BYE to the finals of the tournament.
Rating: 3.25 Stars
And speaking of pretty good...
Ricky Steamboat vs Randy Savage-Yep, before they had their classic match at WrestleMania III, Steamboat & Savage squared off in the quarterfinals of the Wrestling Classic. Here, their match is about 10 minutes shorter than their match at WrestleMania, but it's still great. Lots of fast paced, back and forth offense, great counters & transitions, beautiful executions of moves, it's a really good match. The finish comes when Steamboat tries to back suplex Savage into the ring from the apron. However, Savage was able to clock with brass knuckles before making the cover and getting the win. This was a really good match, easily of the best matches of the night.
Rating: 3.75 stars
So how do you follow up that match?
Moondog Spot vs The Junkyard Dog-45 seconds of something that's barely wrestling, that's how! This is another match I've talked about in the Worst in the World, so I'll keep it short. Spot rushes JYD as soon as the match starts, only to miss a second rope splash and get headbutted to death. There was no referee for some reason, so JYD counts his own pin and that counts for some reason. What?
Rating: -1 Star
Paul Orndorff vs Tito Santana-This wasn't really anything. Orndorff spent the entire match working over the leg of Santana, only for the match to end in a double countout after the two won't stop brawling on the outside. Really wasn't anything.
Rating: 1 Star
We go back to the big board, where Lord Alfred Hayes is kissing his lady friend. He then points out that the Dynamite Kid has had a rather easy path to the semi-finals as opposed to Randy Savage, who had two tough matches. Also, due to the double countout, the Junkyard Dog gets a BYE to the finals of the tournament.
WWF Championship
Hulk Hogan (c) vs Roddy Piper-WWF Championship-In the sole non-tournament matchup on the card, Hulk Hogan defends the WWF Championship against Roddy Piper. Both men get full entrances, with Piper getting a full band coming down to the ring with him. Also, here's something a little weird; Hulk Hogan doesn't sport his normal red & yellow, instead wearing plain white gear.
We get an instant brawl to start the match, with the two fighting to the outside before quickly fighting back into the ring. Hogan is able to mount some offense early on, but we quickly go into the standard Hulk Hogan match. Piper works over Hogan before slapping on a sleeper hold. Hogan is able to stay alive, however, and frees himself by running over the top rope with Piper on his back. Hogan Hulks Up, only for Piper to throw him into the referee. This allows Piper to grab a chair hit Hogan in the back with it. Piper tries to hit him again, but Hogan blocks it, takes the chair and hits Piper a few times before applying a sleeper hold of his own...while still holding the chair.
However, Cowboy Bob Orton runs down and attacks Hogan to cause a DQ. The heels beat down Hogan until Paul Orndorff runs down with a chair to even the odds. The heels escape the ring as Hogan & Orndorff stand tall.
Rating: 3.25 Stars
Semifinals & Finals
The Dynamite Kid vs Randy Savage-Before the match, Jesse Ventura talks about how unfair it is that the Junkyard Dog doesn't have to wrestle a semifinal match like Savage has to, proposing he be forced to do 200 push ups to even the playing field. Ventura's pretty great. The two ended up having a really good back and forth match. The finish came when the Dynamite Kid hit a superplex, only for Savage to cradle him when tries to roll over into a cover. Another really good match from these two. It's shame it couldn't go longer.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Before the finals, we get an announcement for who wins a Rolls Royce. We get four statements from people, including Jack Tunney & Lord Alfred Hayes as the fans quickly grow restless. They clearly don't care. Hayes finally announces the winner of the "Rolls Royce winner...tournament" as he puts it. Somebody won a car. That's it. Hayes asks everyone to cheer. Everyone boos.
Randy Savage vs The Junkyard Dog-It's hard not to root for Savage in this match. Not just because it's Savage and he's one of the best ever, but because he fought all the way through this tournament while the Junkyard Dog had a BYE into the finals, and even before that he had an easy 45-second victory. Also, Savage comes down to the ring limping, meaning he's wrestling injured. We kick off the match with Savage leaving the ring and grabbing a chair. Savage tosses it at JYD, but JYD just catches it and throws it down. A lot of early portion of this match is Savage leaving the ring to avoid the JYD. When they actually wrestle, JYD easily controls the match. Savage eventually gains control and throws JYD out of the ring, following up with a double axe handle off the top rope. Savage is able to hit it again before hitting the JYD with a chair. No DQ, for some reason. Savage keeps the fight on the outside, rolling into the ring only to break counts before sending JYD back into the ring. JYD is able to regain control before the two go back and forth. JYD ends up back body dropping Savage out of the ring and getting a countout win. This was good, I enjoyed this. The story of Savage having to pick his spots and avoid JYD at all costs due to his injury was great.
Rating: 3.5 stars
And that's about it. I wasn't expecting much from this show and was absolutely dreading the idea of 15 matches, but this was pretty enjoyable. There were quite a few good matches and a couple of really good matches. I wouldn't advise watching the whole show though, just skipping to the best matches. Basically, anything with Steamboat, Savage, and Dynamite Kid on this card is definitely worth watching and the WWF Championship match is pretty good. Watch those and avoid things like Tito Santana vs Paul Orndorff and you should be good.
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