WWF Superstars of Wrestling – November 17, 1990
By Brian Bayless on 10th January 2018
November 17, 1990
From the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, IN
Your hosts are Vince McMahon and Roddy Piper
This week, The Hart Foundation defend the Tag Team Titles against Rhythm & Blues. Also in action are Jake Roberts, Earthquake, and the Big Bossman. Plus, the Ultimate Warriors Survivor Series team as guests on the “Brother Love Show” and more!
Big Bossman vs. Spike Jones
Piper makes fun of Bobby Heenan for having to face Bossman then talks about the Survivor Series. Bossman takes control then we hear from Heenan in an insert promo, flanked by Haku & Barbarian, who tells WWF President Jack Tunney that actions will speak louder than words. Piper then says he is against censorship as Bossman hits a sidewalk slam for the win (1:23). After the match, Bossman cuffs Jones to the ropes.
Thoughts: More focus on the Bossman/Heenan feud as Heenan is using Haku & Bossman as protection.
WWF Update with Gene Okerlund, who plugs the “Hulkamania Forever” VHS courtesy of Coliseum Home Video. We then see footage from last week when Mr. Fuji waved for Demolition to come out and attack the Legion of Doom during their match against the Orient Express. The LoD got beatdown by all five men then Okerlund calls out Fuji for being the instigator and suspects Tunney will take action against Demolition and Fuji.
The Warlord w/ Slick, Rick Martel, and Power & Glory vs. Gary Jackson
Jackson tries a clothesline that has zero effect then Warlord beats him down. Warlord hits a gutwrench suplex then we hear from Jake Roberts and his Survivor Series team as he vows revenge at the PPV then Warlord puts Jackson away with a running powerslam (1:32). Vince then tells us to order Survivor Series on PPV.
Thoughts: The Warlord is actually starting to look better now in the ring. They hyped the Vipers vs. Visionaries match a lot here.
Several kids are touching the giant egg as Vince wonders what is inside.
Earthquake w/ Jimmy Hart & Dino Bravo vs. Tom King
Piper puts over how Earthquake & Bravo working together as a team gives them an advantage at the Survivor Series. Well, Hogan & Tugboat are also good friends. Earthquake hits a standing dropkick as Earthquake & Bravo are in an insert promo saying Hulkamania will die at the Survivor Series. Earthquake stays in control then puts King away with a sitdown splash (1:57). After the match, Earthquake hits two more splashes then King is taken out on a stretcher.
Thoughts: Pretty much the same as every Earthquake squash match we’ve seen over the past year. More Survivor Series hype here as Earthquake vows to kill Hulkamania forever.
An ad voiced over by Okerlund airs telling us to order Survivor Series on PPV.
Brother Love Show with guests The Ultimate Warriors. Brother Love tells them they do not have a chance but Warrior cuts him off and spouts of his wackiness to say how they will win then paces around the set. The Texas Tornado tells us no one can survive the Tornado Punch or beat the Legion of Doom then asks Brother Love if he wants to be next to get hit by the discus punch. The LoD end this by saying they will survive and are the perfect team. They are now hyping up this match by having the team list off what was said above.
Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. Tom Stone
Shawn Michaels leads Jake out to the aisle but is sent back. Jake is also sporting an eye patch. Stone takes him over with an arm drag as the announcers talk about his lack of vision and that he should not even be in the ring. Jake misses a shoulder tackle due to his vision issues then we hear from The Visionaries as they make fun of Jake’s eye. Jake grabs an armbar but Stone gets out and hammers away. Stone covers and gets a nearfall then takes the eye patch off but Jake goes nuts and fires away. Jake hits his clothesline then hits a DDT but instead of covering hammers away and tosses the ref aside and gets himself disqualified (2:36). Jake continues to hammer away until Shawn comes and tries to calm him down. Jake then knocks Stone outside and grabs Damien as the camera zooms in on his eye.
Thoughts: Jake did a great job here selling his eye injury and it made for an entertaining match. He really has been great during this angle.
Survivor Series Report with Gene Okerlund. He plugs the newest edition of WWF Magazine that features a Survivor Series scorecard.
WWF Tag Team Title Match: Rhythm & Blues w/ Jimmy Hartvs. The Hart Foundation (c)
Valentine teases whacking the giant egg with his guitar during the entrance. The announcers talk about the surprise member of the Million Dollar Team as the Hart Foundation take control. The announcers now talk about the Survivor Series rules and the grand finale match possibilities as the champs work over Valentine. Jimmy Hart grabs Neidhart’s leg and that allows Rhythm & Blues to neutralize him in the corner. Honky taunts the crowd but walks into a bearhug until Valentine makes the save. Valentine tags in and thrusts Neidhart in the corner but gets run over as both men are down. Bret tags in and runs wild on the challengers. Valentine breaks up a pin after a Russian leg sweep then Ted DiBiase & Virgil run in and attack Bret. The ref stands there like an idiot until Dusty & Koko B. Ware run in for the save then he rings the bell for the DQ as its ruled a double count out (5:37) *1/2.
Thoughts: Bret running wild at the end was the only good thing about this match. These teams had bad matches around the house show circuit and besides Bret the rest were rumored to be gone from the active roster at the time. And the match layout did nothing to disprove these rumors.
In action next week are Rick Martel, Dustin Rhodes, Mr. Perfect, Legion of Doom, and the featured match of Tito Santana vs. Sgt. Slaughter.
Final Thoughts: This was the final episodes of Superstars before the PPV. And at this point the show just does not feel special. The top of the card is weak and there are too many feuds with either little fanfare or that are past their expiration date, which explains the drop in house show attendance leading to the cancellation of “C” shows.