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WWF Summerslam '89

Live from East Rutherford, NJ

Airdate: August 28, 1989

Attendance: 20,000 (sold out)

Hosted by Tony Schiavone and Jesse “The Body” Ventura

Can the power of Zeus ruin the good show streak of 1989? Let’s find out!

Match 1 (non-title): WWF tag team champions the Brain Busters (w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan) versus the Hart Foundation

Highlights:

Rating: ****

Summary: Excellent tag match showcasing all four wrestlers’ abilities. The finish also made sense since the Busters had just won the titles. Losing would have tarnished their accomplishment.

Backstage, “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews a polka-dot-wearing Dusty Rhodes. He’s ready to kick some Honkytonk Man “booty.”

Match 2: The Honkytonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart) versus the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes

Highlights:

Rating: *1/2

Summary: Did Rhodes steal Duggan’s thunder by being the crowd-fluffer? Or was he just fluffy?

After the match, Sean Mooney interviews a dazed Honkytonk Man who has no clue where he is right now. Get out the smelling salts!

Backstage, Okerlund interviews Demolition and Duggan. They’re ready for a metric ton of wrestling—the Twin Towers and Andre the Giant.

Match 3: Mr. Perfect versus the Red Rooster

Highlights:

Rating: *

Summary: Showcase match for Mr. Perfect

Promo for Survivor Series airs. It’s coming to PPV on 11/23. Mark your calendars!

Backstage, Okerlund interviews Rude with Heenan. Unfortunately, the WWE Network shows the home video version instead of the live version. Please be careful. Link is NSFW due to a curse word in the URL.

Match 4 (six-man): The Rougeaus & the “Model” Rick Martel (w/ Jimmy Hart & Slick) versus the Rockers & Tito Santana

Highlights:

Rating: ***1/2

Summary: Exciting tag match as the heels stole the victory. Great work by all involved.

We then revisit the Royal Rumble when Rude nailed Warrior with a power twister. Next, we revisit WrestleMania V when Rude stole the IC title from Warrior thanks to Heenan. Following that, we revisit Prime Time Wrestling when Warrior beat Haku (aired 8/13, taped 6/27). After Warrior won, Rude hammered him from behind and delivered a piledriver. When Andre the Giant came to the ring, Warrior tossed Rude atop him.

On Superstars, Rude brought a young lady into the ring to kiss him when Warrior ran in to attack him (aired 6/24, taped 6/6). Also, on Superstars, Heenan distracted Warrior so that Andre could choke him (aired 8/26, taped 8/8).

When we return to the arena, Okerlund interviews a maniacal Warrior backstage.

Match 5 for the WWF Intercontinental title: “Ravishing” Rick Rude (champion w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan) versus the Ultimate Warrior

Highlights:

Rating: ***1/2

Summary: Piper’s distraction took away from the finish, but this was MUCH better than I had anticipated. This was certainly Warrior’s best match thus far in his career.

In the crowd, Mooney deems the crowd experience as “outrageous.”

Not THAT guy!

Backstage, Okerlund interviews Mr. Perfect as the replay of the Perfectplex is shown. He then interviews Piper who calls Heenan “the eunuch of the WWF.” Bartender, I’ll have what he’s having. Afterward, Okerlund interviews Garvin who’s wearing a tuxedo. Abruptly, Heenan interrupts and complains about Piper’s involvement in the last match. Rude then bitches about Piper as the replay of Piper’s involvement is shown. That was CRAZY!

After a five-minute intermission, a review of the Hogan-Zeus feud is shown beginning with No Holds Barred. We then revisit SNME XXI when Zeus prevented Hogan from entering the cage against the Big Bossman. Next, on Superstars, Savage introduced Zeus on the Brother Love show (aired 7/8, taped 6/6). On the following week’s episode, Hogan and Beefcake accepted Savage and Zeus’ challenge (aired 7/15, taped 6/28). Afterward, we revisit SNME XXII when Zeus interfered in the Beefcake/Savage match.

Match 6 (six-man): The Twin Towers & Andre the Giant (w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan & Slick) versus Demolition & King Jim Duggan

Highlights:

Rating: **

Summary: Duggan had two jobs in this match—excite the North Jersey faithful and WALLOP Akeem with the 2x4.

Promo #2 for Survivor Series aired.

Backstage, Okerlund interviews DiBiase with Virgil. DiBiase runs down Snuka and compares him to the injured Jake “The Snake” Roberts.

Match 7: Hercules versus Greg “The Hammer” Valentine (w/ Jimmy Hart)

Highlights:

Rating: ½*

Summary: This was more angle than match as the Valentine-Garvin saga continued.

After the match, Garvin announces Hercules as the winner. When referee Tim White clarifies the decision, Garvin still announces Hercules as the winner via disqualification. Rightfully, Valentine takes exception and nails Garvin. He and Hercules continue to brawl until Garvin returns to hit Valentine.

Backstage, Okerlund interviews Savage and Zeus while Sherri stirs a cauldron. How many eyes of newts was she cooking?

Match 8: The “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase (w/ Virgil) versus Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka

Highlights:

Rating: *

Summary: Pure definition of a popcorn match. Butter and salt, please!

After the match, Snuka nails both DiBiase and Virgil with a flying double clothesline. He then gives DiBiase a flying head butt sending him between the ropes to the floor. Upon chopping Virgil, Snuka delivers a backbreaker, mounts the top turnbuckle, and hits the flying splash.

In the cheap seats, an anxious Mooney can’t wait for the main event. He’d better wonder what happened to his wallet.

Backstage, Okerlund interviews Hogan and Beefcake.

Prior to the main event, ring announcer Howard Finkel introduces the Genius. Unlike his previous days as a babyface, Lanny Poffo uses his poetic license to portray a heel.

Match 9: WWF champion Hulk Hogan & Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake (w/ Elizabeth) versus “Macho Man” Randy Savage & Zeus (w/ Sensational Sherri)

Highlights:

Rating: **

Summary: While entertaining, all the no-selling made parts of the match unappealing.

After the match, Hogan grabs Sherri, gives her an atomic drop, and Elizabeth HAMMERS her with the purse. While Elizabeth holds the unconscious Sherri’s ponytail, Beefcake cuts it off.

As Savage and Zeus carry a barely conscious Sherri back to the locker room, Hogan baits them with the WWF belt. He then poses for the North Jersey faithful to close out the show.

Conclusion: With the great opener, six-man, and IC matches, this show is a must-see for wrestling fans. Contrarily, your mileage may vary on the main event depending upon your preferences with the Hulkster.

Stay tuned for NWA Clash VIII!

Buyrate: 4.80

Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).

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