Just watched a 1989 MSG house show

[Guest humanoid92]

Hey, the other day I found an old MSG house show in the ol' tape collection so I thought I'd pop it in. It's from April of 1989. Here's a quick rundown:

 

- The announcers were Tony Schiavone and Lord Alfred Hayes, which actually wasn't as God-awful as it looks on paper. This was back when Tony was still an average commentator, and let's just say I've seen far worse performances from Alfred.

 

- The Vladimir dude that was at all the old WWF shows, is in fact in attendance.

 

- Greg "The Hammer" Valentine vs. The Blue Blazer

Pretty good match. Owen was awesome. Finish came when Valentine caught him coming off the top rope and slammed him (not even a powerslam) to get the three. Went about 11 minutes.

 

- Honky Tonk Man vs. Hillbilly Jim

The match never even gets started, as Honky beats him down with the megaphone before the bell rings. Honky then bails, and Hillbilly gets on the mic, demanding his match... Honky never comes back out. Good thing I didn't have to sit through that.

 

- Dino Bravo vs. Hercules

I was sure this was gonna suck, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. Sure, there were some typical house show stall tactics, and Bravo had a few long restholds, but other than that, this was actually a good power match with good psychology. They really told a pretty good story out there. The end came when Bravo countered a sunset flip attempt and held on to the ropes for leverage to get the cheap pin at about 16 and a half minutes. Herc cleared house with the chain afterwards. If I was rating this, I might go as high as **1/2. I'm as shocked as you.

 

- Boris Zukhov vs. Paul Roma

Ugh... nothing to see here. The psychology is all over the place, and Boris just plain sucks. He uses a long bear hug. Roma makes the comeback and catches him in a powerslam to get the win at about 12 minutes.

 

- Ted DiBiase vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts

Ya know, this feud lasted a loooong time. Pretty average match, with Jake frustrating DiBiase for the first 7 or 8 minutes before Teddy takes over. At one point during this match, Lord Alfred actually refers to the cameramen as "photographers... motion photographers, that is". Jake makes the big comeback and they do a reversal sequence that ends with Jake rolling him up for the pin at about 16 and a half minutes. The heels beat him down afterwards, but Jake comes back and DiBiase sacrifices Virgil. Typical Jake/DiBiase stuff.

 

- Intermission

MSG Sportsdesk. Hell yeah. Apparently, this show was on the day of the 1989 NFL Draft. Just thought you should know.

 

- They do some backstage interviews with Sean Mooney, including Mr. Perfect, The Bushwackers, and Randy Savage & Sherri.

 

- Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect

Bret's still a tag wrestler, and Perfect is undefeated. Still, in the pre-match interview, Perfect put Bret over as being perhaps the greatest technician in the WWF. They start out with the basics, with Perfect overselling all the way, of course. They do some cool sequences, inlcuding the famous Bret/Perfect kickout exchange (Perfect slams Bret, bends over to pick him up, and Bret kicks him in the face, then Bret slams perfect and Perfect returns the favor). Perfect takes control when they do the KOTR 93/Survivor Series 95 spot, sending Bret flying off the apron and into the railing at ringside. Perfect kind of dogs it on offense, hitting the occasional move (beautiful standing dropkick) but otherwise opting to simply throw Bret out of the ring and wait for the countout. Perfect finally misses a charge and rams his shoulder into the post, allowing Bret to really start working over his arm. This flows well, because Bret worked his arm in the early portion of the match too. Perfect comes back when he counters Bret's crucifix attempt (a move which almost beat Perfect in the early stages of the match) by falling backwards and slamming him. Perfect works Bret's back breifly, but Bret comes back and starts the five moves of doom. He gets the backbreaker and elbow off the second rope, and covers, but the 20 minute time limit expires (I think they were off by a few seconds) and the match ends in a draw. Perfect seems pleased to escape with his undefeated streak in tact, but Bret takes the mic and asks him for five more minutes. Perfect responds with, "Hey, if you couldn't beat me in twenty minutes, what's five more gonna do, pal?" He's got a point. Bret turns his back to play to the crowd and Perfect jumps him. He beats him down, but Bret comes back and absolutely destroys Perfect (Hennig is in full oversell mode and the crowd loves it). This match was far from a classic, but it was still really good, I'd say about ***1/2-***3/4

 

- Brainbusters vs. Bushwackers

No Heenan tonight. The Busters try to outwrestle the Wackers, but Butch and Luke always find a simple counterhold regardless of what Tully and Arn try- they bite them. The Wackers clear the ring with battering rams before the Busters take over. Once the hot tag is made, all four men end up in there. The ref gets occupied with Tully, as Arn prepares to suplex Luke (or was it Butch?) As he lifts him up, Butch (or was it Luke?) headbutts Arn in the gut, and his cousin falls on top for the pin at about 10 minutes. Pretty big upset. I wasn't expecting that at all, but then again it was a house show. Still... yikes. Decent enough match considering it was the Bushwackers in there.

 

- Howard Finkel announces a May 8th show at the Meadowlands with a card of Valentine vs. Bret, Perfect vs. The Blazer, Brooklyn Brawler vs. Red Rooster, Tito Santana vs. Rick Martel, Tag Champs Demolition vs. The Twin Towers, and a main event of IC Champion Rick Rude vs. The Ultimate Warrior.

 

- WWF Title: Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage

Lord Alfred hypes this as their first rematch since Wrestlemania V. I'm not gonna lie to you, it was late while I was watching this and I fell asleep a few minutes into it. I'm sure it was the typical Hogan/Savage stuff, but I suppose I'll have to rewatch it anyway.

 

So there's the show. I used to love the MSG house shows, just because it was a chance to see something different. Lower midcard guys were given lots of time to show their stuff, and this was back in the days when it was something special to see two non-jobbers go at it.

 

Anybody have any other (MSG or not) house shows they want to comment on? Anyone seen this one? Comments?

[Guest kingkamala]

That show sounds awesome, I almost bought an MSG show from December of 91 main evented by Hulk Hogan-Ric Flair, with a semi main event of Randy Savage-Jake Roberts, also on the card was Bret Hart-Ted DiBiase for the IC title. I should have gotten it just looking at those three matches.

[Guest humanoid92]

I think I actually have/had that one somewhere too. Hogan/Flair is pretty good- Hogan controls on offense for a long time, then I think they do some type of Dusty finish. Flair originally wins, but the decision is reversed or something... some sort of DQ. I don't know, I forget, but I'm sure they did that same exact match around the horn so I'm sure someone on here knows what happened. I remember Bret/DiBiase being pretty good, upwards of *** but not a classic. It's weird though, Jake/Savage is about my favorite feud ever, but I don't remember that match being on there at all.

[Guest dreamer420]

Where do you guys purchase these shows? I am quite interested in picking up a few old house shows to add to my collection.

[Guest NoSelfWorth]

Tabe

Corey

 

Try these guys. They both have a ton of MSG stuff, and tons of other tapes as well.

[Guest Your Olympic Hero]

with a semi main event of Randy Savage-Jake Roberts

With the buildup for it, I always wish that they would've gotten 20 minutes at Tuesday in Texas in '91, maybe in a Texas Death Match. Could've hit ****, easily.

[Guest humanoid92]

I got mine years ago, and I'm pretty sure the guy I brought mine from no longer sells them because his site has disappeared.

 

As a follow up to the original post, Savage ended up beating Hogan by countout in about 11 minutes. Pretty surprising, actually, but understandable. Of course he got his heat back after the match and spent 10 minutes posing to the crowd.

 

And Your Olympic Hero, as for the Jake/Savage thing I thought Tuesday In Texas was perfect as it was, but the perfect way to end the feud would have been to have a Career Match at Wrestlemania VIII (the chance for the 20 minute **** match you're talking about). Would have made perfect sense. Jake was leaving anyway, let Savage be the one to do it to end their hot feud. Also, Savage himself lost a career match a year earlier at Wrestlemania for him to complete his comeback by winning one would have been a sweet story. This could have easily happened had we gotten the planned Hogan/Flair match... of course it would have also made way for Undertaker/Sid, but you have to take the good with the bad. Imagine that Wrestlemania VIII card then: Hogan/Flair, Jake/Savage, and Bret/Piper. As it is, WM 8 goes down as one of the best WM's ever, but imagine that... damn.

[Guest JHawk]

That show sounds awesome, I almost bought an MSG show from December of 91 main evented by Hulk Hogan-Ric Flair, with a semi main event of Randy Savage-Jake Roberts, also on the card was Bret Hart-Ted DiBiase for the IC title. I should have gotten it just looking at those three matches.

I have that show, and the Savage-Roberts match isn't on it unless someone added the Tuesday in Texas match to it someplace. Hogan-Flair's pretty decent and DiBiase-Hart's at least ***1/2, so I'd pick it up, but don't expect to see Savage-Roberts if you get it.

[Guest Drury37]

I thought it was funny that you mentioned MSG Sportsdesk because I just turned that off to come in here and read your rant,haha!!!

Thanks.

[cawthon777 0]

To clear up the confusion, Savage / Jake was at the January 92 MSG show - not the Dec 91 one.