WELCOME TO ROCK STAR GARY REFLECTIONS!

A house show? Why am I reviewing a house show? Oh, you mean THIS show? While house shows in Madison Square Garden were broadcast locally on cable this particular house show contained an historical highlight that cannot be overlooked. I just hope the rest of the card doesn’t suck.

Live from New York, NY

Airdate: January 23, 1984

Attendance: 26,292 (Wow!)

Hosted by Gorilla Monsoon and Pat Patterson

Match 1: Tony Garea versus Jose Luis Rivera

Highlights:

Rating: *1/2

Summary: Slow start to an uneventful opener. If their job was to pop the crowd they failed to do so.

Match 2: The Invaders versus the “Samurai Warrior” Mr. Fuji and Tiger Chung Lee

Highlights:

Rating: **

Summary: Standard tag match that utilized the big man/small man formula well but not excellently.

Match 3: Chief Jay Strongbow versus the Masked Superstar

Highlights:

Rating: *

Summary: This match was all Strongbow until the finish. Methinks he should retire. Unfortunately he died in April 2012. RIP Chief.

Match 4: Ivan Putski versus Sgt. Slaughter

Highlights:

Rating:*1/2

Summary: The crowd was very much in Putski’s favor, but that’s all he had going for him at this point in his career.

After the match Putski gives Slaughter a cross-corner whip sending him over the turnbuckle to the floor. Slaughter returns to the ring and brawls with Putski.

Back in the locker room “Mean” Gene Okerlund, having escaped the AWA, interviews Orndorff. Paul cuts a somewhat racist promo on Bellomo and threatens him with a piledriver.

Match 5: “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff (w/ “Rowdy” Roddy Piper) versus Salvatore Bellomo

Highlights:

Rating: *1/2

Summary: Extended squash for the newcomer Orndorff. Poor Bellomo got cremated with that piledriver.

Match 6 for the Intercontinental title: “Magnificent” Don Muraco (w/ Capt. Lou Albano) versus Tito Santana

Highlights:

Rating: NONE

Summary: Double disqualification that continued Tito’s quest for the gold.

Match 7 (dwarf 2/3 falls): The Haiti Kid and Tiger Jackson versus Dana Carpenter and Pancho Boy

Highlights:

Rating: NONE

Summary: The Haiti Kid and Tiger Jackson won 2 falls straight with a supposedly improvised finish.

Back in the locker room Gene interviews Blassie who is wearing a keffiyeh. Blassie believes that the camel clutch will work on Hogan. Gene then turns his attention to the WWF champion Iron Sheik. Initially the Sheik speaks in Arabic then switches to English when Gene calls him on it. Sheik refers to Hogan as an “animal.”

Match 8 for the WWF title: The Iron Sheik (champion w/ “Classy” Freddie Blassie) versus Bob Backlund the “Incredible” Hulk Hogan

Highlights:

Rating: ***

Summary: Whereas Crockett wanted Flair as the flag-bearer for his promotion Vince wanted Hogan as his. This match signifies the birth of Hulkamania and receives an automatic * for historical value. As a moment it’s a landmark achievement but as a match not so much.

The crowd loses its collective minds as they voice their approval for their new hero. After the match as Hogan holds up an “I fear no man” sign Sheik is placed on a stretcher by a pair of trainers. Suddenly the Sheik leaps from the stretcher to go after Hogan. The Hulkster wallops him and vaults him over the top rope to the floor. If that wasn’t a “this is MY ring” statement I don’t know what was.

Back in the locker room Gene interviews Hogan. The Hulkster refers to his victory as the “dream of a lifetime.” As Hogan thanks the fans for their support Andre the Giant pours a whole bottle of champagne over Hogan’s head completely dousing him. Putski joins the party with another champagne bath for Hogan. Rocky Johnson celebrates by drowning Gene with champagne.

Wait a minute! The show’s not over? Wasn’t that the main event? Oh, we have TWO more matches…

Match 9: “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka versus Rene Goulet

Highlights:

Rating: *

Summary: Extended squash for Snuka.

Back in the locker room Hogan has his parents, Ruth and Pete Bollea, with him. Of course Gene maintains kayfabe and supplies their last name of Hogan. Pete refers to his son as a “real professional.”

Match 10 (six-man): Andre the Giant, “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas, and Rocky Johnson versus the Wild Samoans

Highlights:

Rating: *

Summary: Not only was Andre a big attraction but also a winner.

Conclusion: It goes to show that while the NWA showcased wrestlers the WWF showcased entertainers. From a technical standpoint no matches stood out whatsoever. However, from an entertainment standpoint it was an unforgettable show that shouldn’t be missed.

Truthfully if you’ve never seen the birth of Hulkamania seek it out and skip the rest.

See you for the inaugural David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions!

Buyrate: NONE (this was broadcast on the MSG Network)

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

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