Posted November 22, 201410 yr comment_5641075 The VQ for some this is shaky. WWF Heavyweight Title: Bob Backlund © vs. "Incredible" Hulk Hogan (4/12/80) Backlund offers his hand before the match and Hogan actually shakes it which gets a pop from the crowd. This starts with a feeling out process with Hogan trying to use his strength to neutralize Backlund but Bob uses his agility to get free and it was fun watching Hogan trying outwrestle Backlund on the mat. Backlund would spend a good bit of time working a headlock on the mat which really slowed the match down. Hogan would finally get the advantage after using a Billy Robinson style backbreaker on Bob and the fans were going nuts for Backlund here as Hogan started working over Backlund's left arm using various holds which was pretty good for a guy his size. Backlund deadlifting Hogan out of a short arm scissors was impressive to watch. Hogan would then go to a bearhug to wear down Backlund who fought his way out of it with a piledriver. Backlund though got all knees when he tried a splash but Hogan was too weak to really put him away. Hogan would get Backlund in an Airplane Spin which Backlund responded with one of his own which took both men to the floor where Backlund continued with his before rolling Hogan to the ring and Backlund couldn't get up in time to beat the count. Interesting finish to a good but slow paced match which showed that Hogan had potential to be very good. I'm going to throw this on the block as a low-end nomination. Next we get a promo from Hogan with Dick Graham with Hogan wearing a black shirt that reads "SUPER SOUTHERN SQUEEZE" where Hogan proclaims that he will be the King of the 80's. This is extra material but it was funny though that this aired after the Backlund match instead before it as Hogan is talking about what he is going to do to him. Bruno Sammartino vs. Larry Zbyszko (4/12/80) Larry attacks Bruno as he was trying to get in the ring and starts battering him around from the ring keeping him on the floor before Bruno finally rolled in to meet more punishment until Bruno kicked him right in the balls. Bruno then proceeds to beat down Larry with stomps and punches sending Larry to the floor where he would give Larry some of the punishment he got earlier. Bruno just smashes Larry all around the ring until Larry starts fighting back and this is now a total slugfest with both men showing the immense hatred they had for each other. Kal Rudman says on commentary that Bruno wants to commit murder on Larry and I believe him by the way he just bashes Larry's head into anything he could. Larry would bring a chair into the ring which Bruno would grab and he just walloped Larry with the chair and Dick Woehrle would stop the match as Larry was unable to continue. This was a fucking awesome match as it's all violence and hatred. Slam dunk nomination. WWF Tag Titles: "Polish Power" Ivan Putski & Tito Santana © vs. The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) (4/12/80) There was a 4-way brawl at the bell with the champs coming out on top starting the match in their favor. It was fun watching Tito trying to carry his partner and opponents at the same time. Putski juices here for some odd reason and uses the ring apron to wipe the blood off his head which was something I've never seen before. The finish was very abrupt as Putski who was wiping off his head couldn't save Tito from a quick Samoan Drop in an awkward finish for a title change. "Cowboy" Bobby Duncum vs. "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas (5/10/80) Dave Zinckoff announces the guys again which was always a treat. This was okay for what it was as Atlas showed some fire and Duncum did a fine job of selling everything. Atlas loses by countout which was a screwy ending to this as he was trying to fight Duncum from the apron. WWF Heavyweight Title: Bob Backlund © vs. "incredible" Hulk Hogan (5/10/80) Here is the rematch from the month earlier with the countout finish. Hogan offers his hand before the match like Backlund did before and Backlund refused to shake it so Hogan proved himself by breaking clean a couple of times before offering his hand again which Bob would accept. Hogan would get Bob in the corner again and this time tried to ambush him but Bob broke free and nailed him. I liked that whole segment of psychology. This would lead to both men trying to feel each other out like the start of their previous match with Hogan again working over Backlund's left arm. Backlund was trying his best to break free but every time he thought he got loose Hogan got him back down. Hogan would try to use the legdrop to no avail allowing Backlund to recover and he would immediately go to work on Hogan's left leg. The tape would run out though before the finish. The Hangman vs. Steve King (6/18/80) Squash and we get a promo afterwards from Blassie. Next is the Andre/Hogan TV match which I've seen already. Handicap Match: Hulk Hogan vs. Angelo Gomez & Fred Marzino (6/18/80) Total squash. Ken Patera vs. "Quick Draw" Rick McGraw (7/8/80) McGraw would give Patera fits early on but Patera would eventually get the advantage and put him away fairly easily finishing him off with a suplex. Next we get promos from Albano, Samoans, Bruno, for the 8/16/80 Cap Centre show.
