SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 21:27 Min.
On November 23, 1989, from the Rosemont Horizon, in suburban Chicago, IL, this eight-man elimination tag match was the second-to-last of five such matches at the 3rd Annual Survivor Series.
Captaining “The Rude Brood” (aka “Rude’s Brood”) is ex-WWF Intercontinental Champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude. Oozing almost as much conceit as Rude are his partners: “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig (with associate “The Genius” Lanny Poffo), and, with their manager Jimmy Hart, The Fabulous Rougeaus: brothers Raymond & Jacques Rougeau. Conspicuously absent is Rude’s own manager, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, but this matter is later explained prior to the event’s concluding bout.
Leading his wacky “Roddy’s Rowdies” is “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. Piper’s quartet consists of: his former mid-80s nemesis, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, and The Bushwhackers: Butch Miller & Luke Williams.
The match commentators are “Gorilla” Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura.
Notes: Rude’s team justifies its nickname in their pre-match promo, not to mention their post-match gloating. In contrast, the Piper team’s own pre-match promo (with “Mean” Gene Okerlund) is hilariously lowbrow.
REVIEW:
Featuring lots of cartoonish fake biting, this showdown effectively scores comedy relief in the first half before giving way to solid wrestling down the stretch. The Piper vs. Rude feud (as does Piper vs. Hennig) packs star power, but this match is subsequently stolen by Snuka & Hennig’s high-caliber showdown.
Suffice to say, this sleeper bout where Piper’s roughhousing brutes counter the Rude squad’s finesse provides a welcome treat.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars