Category: WWF/WWE (Pro Wrestling)

SUMMARY:             APPROX. RUNNING TIME: 33:19 Min.*

At Madison Square Garden, on February 23, 1992, this WWF house show included a 20-Man Over-the-Top Battle Royal main event. 

In order of appearance, the participants are: 1. The Berzerker  2.  “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith; 3. “The Model” Rick Martel; 4. Hercules; 5. and 6. The Bushwhackers’ Luke & Butch; 7. Skinner; 8. Repo Man. 9. Warlord; 10. Chris Walker; 11. The Orient Express’ Kato; 12. “Jumping” Jim Brunzell; 13. WWF Intercontinental Champion “Rowdy” Roddy Piper; 14 and 15. The Nasty Boys’ Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags; 16. The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer); 17. Big Boss Man; 18. Sid Justice (with Harvey Whippleman); 19. WWF World Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair; and 20. Hulk Hogan.

The match’s co-commentators are: Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and “Lord” Alfred Hayes.

Notes: The match’s running time is significantly padded by the participants’ leisurely entrances.  The wrestlers highlighted in black italics previously appeared in the 20-Man Battle Royal held at London’s Royal Albert Hall on October 3, 1991.

REVIEW:

Given the mostly ‘B’ and ‘C’-list cast, fans are treated to watchable battle royal mayhem.  Still, there are some intriguing one-on-one (and occasionally two-on-one) match-ups worth catching, even briefly: i.e., Sid vs. the newly face Undertaker; the sight of Hogan & Undertaker double-teaming Flair; the reliable Piper vs. Flair rivalry; Sid repeatedly pounding on Nasty Boy Knobbs; Boss Man holding his own vs. Undertaker & then later Sid; and inevitably Hogan vs. Sid’s skullduggery to tease WrestleMania VIII.

Hogan and Sid’s slow-pitch showdown (as dubious as that sounds) surpasses their subsequent WrestleMania VIII main event.  Without spoiling their semi-clever finish, the less-than-dominant Hogan comes away as a sympathetic underdog.  At least, it is better plotting than the disappointing WrestleMania cliché-fest he and Sid bored fans with. 

All said, the biggest names shine enough.  Supplying main eventers Sid and The Undertaker their most plausible opposition, this battle royal’s unappreciated MVP is the Boss Man.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                         6 Stars

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SUMMARY:   APPROX. RUNNING TIME: 14:40 Min.

At the Royal Albert Hall, in London, on October 3, 1991, the WWF’s Battle Royal main event winner earns the silver Royal Samovar Trophy. 

In this 20-Man Over-the-Top Battle Royal, the participants are: 1. WWF Intercontinental Champion “Texas Tornado” Kerry Von Erich (although he isn’t acknowledged as such);  2. The Mountie; 3. “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith; 4. and 5. Power & Glory’s Paul Roma & Hercules; 6. Tito Santana; 7. and 8. The Rockers’ Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels; 9. The Barbarian; 10 and 11. The Natural Disasters’ Earthquake & Typhoon; 12. “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan; 13. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper; 14 and 15. The Nasty Boys’ Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags; 16. The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer); 17. and 18. WWF World Tag Team Champions The Legion of Doom’s Road Warrior Hawk & Road Warrior Animal; 19. Big Boss Man; and 20. “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

The match’s co-commentators are: Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and “Lord” Alfred Hayes.  An ailing Andrè the Giant’s cameo is among his last appearances in the WWF.

Notes: The wrestlers highlighted in black italics later appeared in the 20-Man Battle Royal held in Madison Square Garden on February 23, 1992.

REVIEW:

The match is very entertaining with some memorable sequences.  Specifically, there is the perennial Piper vs. Flair feud, along with a welcome twist pitting Piper vs. the Undertaker.  The same applies to a solid reprise of the Boss Man’s recent series against The Mountie.  Despite a predictable winner, the finish is still a definite crowd-pleaser.  If anything, André the Giant’s presence adds luster to a classy WWF production.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     7 Stars

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SUMMARY:                          RUNNING TIME: 18:14 Min.

At In Your House 4 on October 22, 1995, at Winnipeg Arena in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, WWF World Champion Kevin “Diesel” Nash would face “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith.  In addition to the ringside presence of Smith’s wily manager, Jim Cornette, the announcing team consists of Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and guest commentator Bret “Hitman” Hart (at this point, he is a two-time WWF World champion). 

It is repeatedly teased that, as an impartial observer, Hart awaits the match’s winner in a month for a World Title showdown at the 1995 Survivor Series.

REVIEW:

Describing this main event as an unwatchable ‘DUD’ probably isn’t the fairest assessment.  Make no mistake: clearly neither Kevin Nash nor Davey Boy Smith are striving here for ‘Match of the Year’ consideration.  Still, their battle conveys an aura of painful realism (i.e., countering Nash’s overwhelming size, Smith & Cornett’s ground game repetitively target his knees) rather than the polished big-league choreography that fans are expecting. 

The power-packed Smith, hence, fails to accomplish what Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels seemingly made look easy: maximizing Nash’s in-ring limitations to justify his position as Vince McMahon’s World Champion.  Another factor hampering this dull title match is that neither competitor affects an ounce of charisma. 

Aside from Bret Hart’s match-ending contributions, this match’s disappointing quality resembles mid-card filler for a forgettable house show.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                 3 Stars

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SUMMARY:                   RUNNING TIME: 18:28 Min.

On January 11, 1987, the WWF’s house show at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens would include a WWF World Tag Team Title defense.  Specifically, The British Bulldogs’ Davey Boy Smith defends the title against his brothers-in-law: the unscrupulous Hart Foundation (Bret “Hitman” Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart). 

With British Bulldog Tommy “The Dynamite Kid” Billington hospitalized due to in-ring injuries, the WWF opted to supply  Smith with substitute partners.  Accompanying Smith and bulldog mascot, Mathilda, appropriately enough, that night is the Junkyard Dog.  Conspicuously absent is the Harts’ manager: Jimmy “Mouth of the South” Hart. 

Refereeing the bout is a corrupted Danny Davis, who essentially makes it a six-man tag bout against a makeshift Bulldog team (if one counts Mathilda).  The match’s co-commentators are Gorilla Monsoon & “Luscious” Johnny Valiant.

REVIEW:

Including the fun use of Mathilda to harass the villains at the get-go, this tag match (including its commentary) is as fun as one could expect.  Unsurprisingly, a vibrant Smith’s chemistry with his brothers-in-law delivers some surefire wrestling magic.  Contributing little during the match’s mid-section, the Junkyard Dog still gets a welcome piece of the inspired finish. 

This title bout is not necessarily DVD-worthy, but the players involved ensure that fans are entertained. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                  6 Stars

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