Scott's Blog of Doom

WWF
Madison Square Garden
9/29/88

Your Hosts are Rod Trongard, Lord Alfred Hayes, and Superstar Billy Graham

Sam Houston vs Terry Taylor (8:19)

This was before Taylor became the “Red Rooster,” but just after his heel turn. This was a short period. Taylor breaks the action to run his hands through his hair. Houston backs Taylor in the corner, who then lands a cheap shot while standing behind the ref. This happens a few more times. Taylor does more stalling and the crowd gets restless. Taylor backed in the corner and gets another cheapshot. Taylor gets in some shots then acts cocky and walks into a scoop slam. Houston slugs away and sends Taylor to the outside. In the ring, Taylor backs Houston in the corner but gets knocked down. Houston mocks Taylor with a chicken dance as he stalls some more. Taylor is on the apron and tries to suplex Houston to the outside. Sam blocks it and suplexes him back in for two. Crossbody gets two. Armdrag by Houston and he works the arm. Taylor tries a slam but sells his hurt arm and Houston goes back to work on it. Taylor eventually backs him in the corner but Sam fights back. Hairpull by Houston and he goes back to work on the arm. Taylor gets a headbutt but taken down by a forearm. Houston charges and Taylor tosses him to the floor. Taylor grabs him back in by his hair. Jawbreaker by Taylor and he drops some elbows. He covers him by having his hands behind his back and gets two. Suplex by Taylor and the bell rings. (8:19) * Houston backdrops Taylor and fires away. The bell rings again and Houston sends Taylor to the floor with a dropkick. Lord Alfred says time expired, but the decision is that Taylor won the match. The announcers have no idea what happened.

Thoughts: No idea what happened at the finish. Taylor stalled the majority of the match. A few weeks later he became the Red Rooster.

The Conquistadors vs The Rockers

Superstar notes how the Rockers have been pumping iron lately. Jannetty gets double teamed in the corner and the Conquistadors pass him off by using the torture rack. Michaels eventually breaks it up and dropkicks a Conquistador out of the ring. Back in, Jannetty gets double-teamed again until Shawn breaks up. The Conquistadors clear the ring to take a breather. Jannetty gets a tag and Michaels comes off the top with a fist. He works the arm as the announcers babble on about the tag-team division. Michaels gets a monkey flip out of the corner. He tries again but hit from behind by the illegal man. Shawn gets whipped in the corner as the Conquistadors use double-team moves. Shawn gets backdropped for two. Michaels is able to get a sunset flip for two before getting choked out in the corner as the ref is distracted. Conquistador #1 steps across Shawn as they continue to use illegal moves behind the ref’s back. Backbreaker gets two and Conquistador #1 gets kicked out of the ring. The Conquistadors switch behind the ref’s back. Michaels continues to get assaulted by the Conquistadors. Shawn fights off both men but still not able to make the tag. Double elbow smash gets two. Shawn fights out of a sleeper hold but is knocked down with an elbow. Shawn gets slammed but able to dodge a senton. Marty tags in and cleans house. He dropkicks Conquistador #2 out of the ring, but he does break-up the pin attempt. Jannetty shortly after tosses #2 out of the ring and Shawn leaps off Marty’s shoulders and connects with a splash for the win. (14:31) *1/2

Thoughts: Boring match. The Rockers did not get to showcase any of their moves, and the Conqusitadors used just basic tag-team heel moves.

King Haku w/Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs Junkyard Dog

Bobby demands that the fans get up on their feet and bow to the king. Haku jumps JYD before the bell. JYD reverses a whip and gets a bodyslam. He hits another one and some crawling headbutts send Haku to the floor. He takes his time out on the floor before getting back in the ring. Heenan distracts JYD on the apron, allowing Haku to land a sneak attack. JYD fights back. They both headbutt each other to no effect, until the fourth headbutt on Haku knocks him down. Small package gets two. Roll-up gets two. JYD gets a chinlock then starts to work the arm. JYD has Haku in a hammerlock. The hold gets broken up and Haku goes to the corner and briefly talks with Heenan. Haku stalls then JYD goes back to work on the arm. He lands a few headbutts before going back to a wristlock. Superstar notes how this is the best he has seen JYD in quite sometime. Sadly, he is probably right. JYD gets Haku in a hammerlock. The camera shows Heenan pull an object out of his pants pocket. Haku knocks JYD down and stomps his head. Haku knocks JYD down with a clothesline and poses to the crowd. Haku with chops as JYD powers up. Headbutt is able to knock down JYD. Haku poses to boos as Heenan briefly joins the broadcast table and has nothing to say. Haku starts grabbing JYD’s pits as his hair is being pulled. More nerve holds as Graham is making up muscles of the human body while on commentary. JYD fights back with headbutts but gets kicked down. Heenan goes back on commentary blames the ref for slow counting. JYD gets tossed outside as Haku poses again. He chops JYD on the floor and goes back inside the ring. Heenan moves towards JYD but decides to retreat. Haku with a back suplex for two. Haku grabs JYD tits but that’s broken up by a thumb to the eye. JYD gets a backdrop and gets a powerslam. Heenan runs in a breaks up the cover for the DQ (14:17) ½*. JYD gets double-teamed but grabs his chain, which sends Haku and the Brain to the locker room. JYD puts on the crown that Haku left behind.

Thoughts: JYD had no business going 15 minutes in the ring. This was also JYD’s last MSG appearance.

B. Brian Blair vs Dino Bravo

Blair comes out to zero reaction. Lock-up starts things out and Blair gets tossed. Another lock-up but Blair bounces off the ropes with a forearm and knocks down Bravo with a dropkick. Dino poses on the second rope drawing a few boos. Dino gets a side headlock then takes him down with a shoulderblock. Blair gets a hiptoss off a whip then grabs a headlock. He backs him against the corner and they have a clean break. Blair goes behind and gets a bow an arrow. Blair catches him in a drop toehold and gets an Indian death lock. He works the leg some more and uses a step-over toehold. Blair gets his eyes raked but is able to land a shinbreaker. Blair cannot lock on the figure four but drops an elbow for two. Bravo gets a Manhattan drop and stomps the back of Blair. Dino gets a chinlock for a lengthy amount of time. Bravo gets some pinfalls before going back to the chinlock. Blair tries to fight back and lands a sunset-flip for two. Small package gets two, and Bravo returns to the chinlock. Blair fights of a underhook suplex and gets a backslide for two. Bravo with clubbing forearms that sends Blair to the floor. Bravo poses some more to a few boos. He contines to kick Blair off the apron. Blair crawled through the other side and decks Bravo. Kneelift sends Dino to the mat. Blair smashes Dino’s head off the turnbuckle and punches him in the corner. Atomic drop is followed by a clothesline for two. Bravo reverses a whip and Blair bounces off of the buckles and Bravo catches him with a side slam that gets the pinfall. (13:46) *1/4

Thoguhts: Bravo was blown up and was really hitting the steroids hard at this time. Blair tried but Bravo wasn’t very mobile.

WWF World Heavyweight Championship Match:
Andre the Giant w/Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs “Macho Man” Randy Savage (Champion) w/Elizabeth

Andre sprinkles glitter on Heenan for reasons that are unknown to me. Savage ducks out and almost goes after Heenan, who is walking towards Elizabeth. Pat Patterson gets in Heenan’s grill and Heenan retreats to his corner. He chases Elizabeth and Savage comes out. Patterson and Heenan are arguing and Finkel gets on the mic and states that unless the Brain leaves, the match will be awarded to Savage and Heenan will be fined and suspended. Heenan leaves and the ref warns Elizabeth to stay put. Andre chokes out Macho from behind. He chops him in the corner and knocks Savage outside to the floor. He kicks Savage and then chops him across his chest, with the second one flipping him back in the ring. Andre yells at Elizabeth to leave. More choking by Andre. Savage ducks a chop and clothesline Andre, who gets tangled in the ropes. Savage chokes him out and pulls away the ref, who was trying to untangle Andre from the ropes. Savage continues to choke him out in between some punches. Andre gets untangled and Savage throws a knee and stomps away. Andre gets back up and punches him in the gut then headbutts him through the ropes and onto the apron. Savage fires back with some chops. An elbow smash is followed by a right. Savage goes up top and lands a double axehandle that knocks down Andre. Savage goes up top but Andre dodges the flying elbow. They are outside and Andre grabs hold of Elizabeth’s leg. The bell rings and the decision was a double count out (9:57) ¾*. Savage carries Elizabeth to the back. Andre does not like the decision and chokes out the ref. He then makes him say Andre is the new world champion and Andre poses with the belt. Andre gets a “heavy fine” and walks back to the locker room.

Thoughts: This was about the only way you could use Andre at this point. Have most of the match filled with distractions and have the in-ring action revolve around him being tied in the ropes and his opponent overselling.

Sean Mooney is with Dino Bravo who states the match was one-sided. Dino issues a challenge to Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Dino says there is one thing he likes about America, and that is Brother Love.

Sean Mooney is backstage with the Rockers. Mooney says that since they won tonight, they will get a title match against Demolition. Nothing interview, but Jannetty referred to the Rockers as “speedballs” when talking about their quickness.

Sean Mooney is with Andre and Heenan. Andre demands to be referred to as the new world champion. Andre blames Tunney for the reason that he is not the champion.

Sean Mooney is with Brutus Beefcake. The barber warns Ron Bass that he will get his butt-kicked tonight.

Sean Mooney is with Honky Tonk Man and Jimmy Hart. Honky says the Intercontinental title is his and that he is the greatest of all time.

Sandy Beach vs Scott Casey

Talk about a bathroom break match. Lord Alfred notes how Beach’s neon pink tights has “pansified” his look. Beach shoves down Casey to start out. Casey returns the favor. Beach blocks a reverse roll up and goes on offense. Slam by Beach who drops a fist for two. Clubbing forearms by Beach and he chops Casey in the corner. Beach nails Casey with a shoulderblock in the corner. Slam by Beach but he misses an elbow. Casey with a forearm and he pulls down Beach. Beach gets up and drops Casey throat first across the top rope. Casey tries a sunset flip but cant get Beach over. After some sloppy moves, Casey gets taken down with a shoulderblock, but is able to get a small packagae for two. Even the announcers comment on how bad Beach sucks. Casey powers up and gets a facebuster. He chops him down and gets a suplex, that only gets one. Beach eats boot on a charge and Casey gets a bulldog for the win. (6:09) ¼*. Savage comes out after the match and has a message for Andre and Heenan. He says he when Elizabeth is hurt, he is hurt. He says if he signs his contract, he will “kick is ass.”

Thoughts: Beach was pretty bad in the ring and his movement was clunky. I doubt he lasted much longer with the WWF after this.

“Outlaw” Ron Bass vs Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake

Bass jumps Brutus before the bell, but cannot sustain the advantage. Beefcake punches away on Bass in the corner. The Outlaw goes outside and beefcake follows him and they brawl. Beefcake slams Bass against the guardrail. Bass throws a chair in the ring and Beefcake has himself a seat. Bass picks up his whip, Miss Betsy, and places it off on the ropes. Bass wins a lock-up and hits a knee to the abs. Beefcake dodges an elbow drop and slugs away in the corner. Bass gets kicked out of the ring by Beefcake and Brutus poses for the crowd. Back inside, Beefcake catches his leg and knocks him down. Brutus grabs the scissors and Bass bails. Bass with some turnbuckle smashes but Brutus reverses. They fight in the corner and Bass uses Miss Betsy. He rakes the eyes of the Barber against the ropes. Two elbow drops get two and Bass gets a piledriver for two. Bass thinks that he has won the match. He drapes the head of Brutus over the apron and drops an elbow to his chest. In the ring, Bass slugs away as the crowd gets behind Brutus. Clothesline by Bass gets two. He uses a shoulderclaw that Beefcake eventually fights out of. Brutus slugs away and gets a forearm off of the second rope. Back elbow smash by Brutus and follows with a powerslam. Brutus signals for the sleeper and catches Bass. The camera cuts away and Bass is shown knocking down Brutus. Beefcake ducks a clothesline and gets a crossbody for the win (10:50) *1/2 Bass assaults Beefcake and chokes him out with Miss Betsy. Bass goes to use a spur but the Rockers come out and get Bass out of the ring.

Thoughts: These two continued their feud until the end of the year. Bass left the WWF very shortly after the 1989 Royal Rumble I believe.

Tito Santana vs Bad News Brown

Santana ducks a charge and gets a hiptoss and dropkicks Brown, which causes him to duck outside. Santana throws him back in and throws some forearms. Santana misses a charge and Brown goes to work with some kicks. Headbutt is followed by a scoop slam. Santana gets is knees up during a splash and punches away on the mat. Tito slams his face off of the mat repeatedly. Crossbody gets two. Tito gets a fist off the second rope for two. Santana ducks his head after a whip and gets a forearm across the back. Brown shoves Tito to the floor and follows him out. He whips Tito against the post and goes back in the ring. He drapes Tito over the ropes and lands some forearms to the chest. Throat thrust is followed by a chop. Leg drop gets two. Scoop slam by Bad News and he goes to the second rope. Brown misses a fist drop and Santana fires away. Slam by Tito is followed by a knee drop. Backdrop by Tito and he tries the figure four but was unsuccessful. Tito stomps his chest and fails again at a figure four attempt. Bad News tosses Tito against the corner and gets an atomic drop. Tito finally manages to get on the figure four but Badnews grabs the ropes. Stomps by Tito but he gets caught with a right hand. Ghettoblast follows immediately afterwards for the win. (7:44) **3/4

Thoughts: Easily the match of the night. This match was also wrestled at a much quicker pace than anything else on the card.

Intercontinental Title Match
Honky Tonk Man w/Jimmy Hart vs Ultimate Warrior (Champion)

Warrior chases Honky around the ring and catches him with some rights. They go in the ring and the Warrior gets a choke toss. Chop sends Honky in the corner and the Warrior finishes with ten punches. Warrior misses a corner splash and Honky drops an elbow. He does a little dance and jaws at some fans. He tries a turnbuckle smash but Warriors powers up and smashes Honky against the buckle. Hart distracts the Warrior and Honky gets the advantage. Hart with the megaphone into the chest of Warrior and Honky gets in some shots. Warrior powers up again and slugs in down. As the Warrior was getting punched, he was beating his own chest. A scoop slam is followed by a flying clothesline. Hart is one the apron and the Warrior chases him around the ring. Hart jumps on the Warriors back and Honky races in the ring and beats the ten count. (3:48) ¼*
Warrior clears the ring and the Warrior shakes the ref. He then smashes Honky’s guitar.

Thoughts: Virtually a squash until the DQ. Honky continued his slide down the card.

Final Thoughts: This was certaintly not the most star-studded MSG show of all time. Savage vs Giant was a decent enough draw, but everything else was of little importance. The Intercontiental title match was basically a squash and too many jobbers (Conquistadors, Casey, Beach, Houston) were part of the card. I wouldnt really recommend this at all.

Related Posts:

• Monday Night War 12/4/95
• Monday Night Wars 11/20/95
• Monday Night Wars 11/27/95
• WCW Clash of the Champions XXIII

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Tags: 24, 24/7, Andre the Giant, Dino Bravo, heel turn, House, Intercontinental title, Jim Duggan, Locke, Macho Man, MSG, Randy Savage, RAW, Red Rooster, Royal Rumble, Steroids, Terry Taylor, The Rock, Tito Santana, Ultimate Warrior, WWE, WWF

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 at 5:38 pm and is filed under Rants. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.