WWF Prime Time Wrestling – May 14th, 1990
By Brian Bayless on 30th August 2017
May 14, 1990
Your hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan
Tonight’s featured match is Ted DiBiase vs. Shawn Michaels
Jim Brunzell vs. Mr. Perfect
Brunzell is still sporting his Killer Bees attire here and shorter hair which makes it seem like he has aged ten years since leaving the company 1.5 years ago. Gorilla Monsoon and Lord Alfred Hayes are on commentary as this was from the 4/24 “Wrestling Challenge” Tapings in San Antonio, TX. Perfect gets the best of Brunzell to start. Brunzell comes back with a hip toss and a slam before knocking Perfect over the top rope. Brunzell rolls Perfect inside but gets kicked coming back into the ring. Perfect gets his leg kicked out as Brunzell works that over for a while. Perfect uses an eye poke then lands a few shots but Brunzell goes back to the leg. Perfect turns a figure-four into a small package for a two count then attacks the leg of Brunzell. Brunzell avoids a stomp then fights back. He hits a dropkick but clutches his knee on the mat and cannot make the pin. Perfect is then able to knock Brunzell down and uses the Perfect Plex for the win (5:03) *1/2.
Thoughts: This match was a lot more competitive than I thought. Brunzell took a lot on offense here in his forgettable return to the company.
WWF Special Report from the 5/12 edition of “Superstars of Wrestling” that saw Ted DiBiase attack Big Bossman on “Saturday Night’s Main Event.”
The Genius defeats Dale Wolfe from the 5/13 edition of “Wrestling Challenge.”
Paul Roma & Hercules vs. “Playboy” Buddy Rose & Kenny Johnson
Sean Mooney & Lord Alfred Hayes are on commentary for this match. The announcers rag on Buddy Rose, who gets caught with a powerslam from Hercules. Roma tags in for a flying fist drop that gets two then works the arm. Roma & Hercules stay in control even when Johnson tags in as Hercules rams his face into the corner. Rose attacks Roma from the apron then chokes out Roma behind the referee’s back. Rose tags in and drops an elbow for two. Knee drop gets two. Roma tries to fight back then dodges an elbow drop before tagging out as Hercules runs wild on Johnson. Roma slingshots Hercules in with a shoulder block then they put Johnson away with a Rocker Plex (7:22) **.
Thoughts: This is the second time that Roma & Hercules have teamed up on Prime Time Wrestling. They both wear matching black trunks and white boots while teaming as Hercules is still wearing the dreaded baby blue trunks as a singles wrestler. They show good fire and chemistry together though and the crowd seems to like them too.
Back in the studio, Heenan tells us that WWF President Jack Tunney “jobbed” him in the Intercontinental Title Tournament by not including his men.
The Roddy Piper vs. Rick Martel Intercontinental Title Tournament Match from the 5/13 edition of “Wrestling Challenge” is shown.
Sean Mooney is in the Event Center. We hear from Bad News Brown as he claims to fear nothing then demands a title shot as he says the Ultimate Warrior is not to bright. Bad News sounds like he has a cold here. Now, we hear from Dusty Rhodes & Sapphire as they call Macho King Randy Savage & Sherri “snakes in the grass” and that they are coming for them.
Rick Rude is shown in the gym jumping rope and hitting the heavy bag as Heenan tells the Ultimate Warrior its all for him as Rude vows to defeat Warrior for the title.
The Bushwhackers vs. Mark Ming & Brooklyn Brawler
This match also aired on the 5/20 edition of “Wrestling Challenge.” Brawler & Ming attack The Bushwhackers from behind to start but that fails as The Bushwhackers clear the ring. The match settles down as Brawler beats on Luke. Brawler misses an elbow drop then Luke hits a flying headbutt and a knee drop that gets two. Ming runs in for the save but Butch uses him as a battering ram to knock Brawler outside. Butch then beats on Ming then the Bushwhackers hit the Battering Ram before the double gutbuster gets the win (3:43).
Thoughts: An easy win for The Bushwhackers as their feud against Rhythm & Blues is still being pushed on commentary.
Boris Zhukov tells us everything is fine between Nikolai Volkoff and himself. He doesnt even mind that Volkoff is Lithuanian. That’s awfully tolerant of him.
Earthquake defeating Jerry Monti from the 5/12 edition of “Superstars of Wrestling.”
Brutus Beefcake vs. Dino Bravo Intercontinental Title Tournament match from the 5/12 edition of “Superstars of Wrestling.”
Mooney is back in the Event Center. Earthquake is with Jimmy Hart, who says the WWF will all feel the earthquake and that no one in the company can survive the earthquake. The Bushwhackers then tell us how they will take care of Rhythm & Blues for all of us.
Brother Love Show with guests Dusty Rhodes & Sapphire from the 5/12 edition of “Superstars of Wrestling” that ended with Sapphire slapping Brother Love.
“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase w/ Virgil vs. Shawn Michaels w/ Marty Jannetty
DiBiase hits a few arm drags to start as the announcers question whether or not Shawn can succeed in singles competition. DiBiase stays in control and taunts the crowd but Shawn leapfrogs DiBiase then hits a dropkick and a few arm drags as DiBiase bails to regroup with Virgil. DiBiase returns but Shawn takes control then uses a side headlock on the mat. Shawn reverses a hip toss then grounds DiBiase once again with a side headlock. DiBiase backs Shawn into the corner then lands a cheap shot before chopping away. Shawn floats over then hits a dropkick before using another side headlock as DiBiase tries to escape. DiBiase once again backs Shawn into the corner then catches him with a boot to the face as we head to commercial. We return with Shawn surprising DiBiase with a rollup that gets two but DiBiase goes back on the attack. He tosses Shawn outside where Virgil heads over but is backed away by Marty. DiBiase heads out and drops Shawn on the guardrail then suplexes him back in from the apron for a two count. DiBiase uses a chinlock but Shawn counters that with a backdrop as both men are down with the crowd firmly behind Shawn. Both men get up and clothesline each other down then DiBiase gets up first and hits a slam. DiBiase taunts the crowd before trying a falling back elbow smash but misses as Shawn fights back. Shawn pumps up as DiBiase begs for mercy and gets a nearfall with a dropkick. Shawn hits a corkscrew neckbreaker then heads up top for a crossbody that gets two then Virgil trips him as Marty chases him around the ring then inside where DiBiase clotheslines him then tosses outside. DiBiase clotheslines Shawn then taunts the crowd as Marty is complaining to the ref on the apron then Virgil runs in and tries to attack as the ref rings the bell. The Rockers clean house as we learn the match is ruled a double disqualification, which ring announcer Mike McGuirk accidentally refers to as a double countout at first (14:19) ***1/4.
Thoughts: Things really picked up after the break and it turned into a good match, which should not be that surprising considering the talent. It was nice to see Shawn protected here as the company seems to think more highly of them as an act as the fan reactions have always been there for this team.
Final Thoughts: The featured match was really good, making it a fun show. I typically judge PTW on the featured bout and sometimes the studio banner as it was mostly a recap show of the weekly TV. When this show makes it up on the Network I’d check out the DiBiase vs. Michaels match.