SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 21 Min.
Filmed by the WWE in March 1987 (or possibly February 28, 1987), this Philadelphia Spectrum house showdown pits WWE World Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation (Bret “Hitman” Hart & Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart) vs. The Islanders (Haku & Tama). At ringside are the Harts’ manager, Jimmy Hart, and their new associate: evil ex-referee Danny Davis. The two ringside commentators are unidentified, but they are evidently the Spectrum’s PRISM Network in-house team.
The match also appears on the WWE’s 2013 Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection DVD and Blu-Ray sets.
REVIEW:
Aside from viewing a Harts vs. Islanders battle as a rare opportunity, this title match demonstrates that the WWF’s 1987 tag team scene was very much at the top of its game. All four competitors (with an assist from Davis) deliver solid performances, as it’s a shame that Tama & Haku weren’t given a high-profile push sooner.
Note: After missing out on WrestleMania III, the Islanders excelled at the 1987 Survivor Series as Bobby Heenan’s new heel team. Yet, they were ultimately demoted to a dognapping angle with The British Bulldogs for March 1988’s WrestleMania IV, which was the Islanders’ last real hurrah.
The fact that The Islanders was excluded from WrestleMania III less than a month after this pretty good match speaks volumes. Still, the Hart Foundation’s own progress as new World Tag Team Champions gets the right kind of polish here. For that matter, even the low-key commentators (whoever they are) are surprisingly above-average, though they confusingly misidentify Tama as Haku and vice-versa.
The one downside is that, unsurprisingly, this tag bout relies on house show formula where the same finish was likely recycled most nights.
Note: Amusingly enough, the announcers mention that the Spectrum’s main event that night would be WWE World Champion Hulk Hogan & “Rowdy” Roddy Piper vs. Kamala & “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff. It’s a good bet that, in terms of tag action, the Harts and the Islanders outclassed them.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
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