SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 11:33 Min.
Recorded on December 10, 1987, this WWF grudge match occurred at the Sam Houston Coliseum, in Houston, TX. The backstory is that Paul Orndorff had recently spent several months recuperating from a real-life arm injury. In the meantime, WWF newcomer Rick Rude had usurped Orndorff’s slot in the nefarious Heenan Family stable.
Turning babyface, Orndorff’s vendetta against Rude included facing off on opposing teams in the inaugural Survivor Series’ main event. A few weeks later, this match has a resentful Orndorff still seeking fitting payback.
The commentary trio consists of: Bruce Prichard (the future ‘Brother Love’); ring announcer Michelle “Mike” McGuirk; and pro-heel Pete “Duke of Dorchester” Doherty.
Note: In early January 1988, Orndorff quit the WWF, due to the lingering arm injury. He wouldn’t resurface in mainstream pro wrestling until joining WCW come mid-1990.
REVIEW:
No matter how routine it is, this house show bout reminds viewers how athletic and versatile Orndorff was. Along with Randy Savage, “Mr. Wonderful” merited among the most physically-gifted, smaller adversaries Hulk Hogan ever faced for his WWF World Title. Working with a ultra-slick Rick Rude, the pugnacious Orndorff is still in vintage form. Though this match’s finish isn’t surprising, Rude & Orndorff’s feud give fans a worthwhile brawl.
The same, however, doesn’t apply to the commentators. An articulate Prichard is on a par with fellow mid-level WWF announcers like Craig DeGeorge and Sean Mooney. Parroting Prichard in sound bites, McGuirk is likable enough, but her less-than-insightful commentary is amateurish.
As for a cringe-worthy Doherty, his nasally sarcasm will grate nerves somewhere between Gilbert Gottfried and actor William Hickey’s ‘Uncle Lewis’ from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Despite Prichard’s decent efforts, the distracting commentary does an otherwise solid Orndorff & Rude showdown no favors.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE
